Worcester, MA --- Tournament MVP Meghan Pajonas (Bristol, MA) tallied a game-best 20 points to help host WPI win its first ECAC New England Division III Women's Basketball Championship since 1987 with a thrilling 58-57 victory over conference rival Wheaton on Saturday afternoon.  With the win, the Engineers (23-7) equaled their school record for wins in a season established during the 1995-96 season.

The contest, like the three others this season between the two NEWMAC foes, came down to the closing seconds.  After Pajonas drained two foul shots with 48 seconds remaining to give WPI a 58-53 lead, the Lyons missed two shots before Casey Sorbara (Port Chester, NY) cut the advantage to three with a layup with 34 seconds left. 

Following a WPI turnover, the Lyons got to within one when Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH) registered a layup with 27 seconds left on the clock.  After WPI missed the front end of one-and-one, Wheaton had one final chance but their desperation three-pointer, which was on line, was just short at the final buzzer giving the Engineers their first ECAC crown in 20 years.

Wheaton had taken its final lead at 46-45 when Sorbara had drained a pair of free throws with 8:32 left.  WPI took the lead for good when Kate Maki (Fitchburg, MA) buried a mid range jump shot just over a minute left.  The Engineers then got an unexpected boost from Serena Dubois (Bangor, ME).  The freshman forward, who has amassed just 42 minutes of action in the first 29 games, connected on two layups and added three rebounds as WPI pushed its advantage to five at 51-45.  The Crimson and Gray's final seven points were scored - fitting enough - by Pajonas, who ended her standout career with 1,100 points.

WPI freshman Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA) added to the WPI attack with 10 points, three assists and three steals.  Caitlin Macko (Cromwell, CT) chipped in with seven points while Maki had six points to go along with a game-high five assists.  Pajonas, who dodged foul trouble the entire day, ended with a team-best five rebounds.

Both teams came out sharp on offensive to start the contest.  Wheaton connected on 8-of-10 field attempts over the first ten minutes but WPI kept pace by draining 7-of its first 11 shots from the field.  The Lyons carried a 33-29 advantage into the locker room at the break.

Hickey led the Lyons with 18 points while senior Kim McCormack (Milton, MA) contributed 11 before fouling out late in the contest.  Sorbara ended with 9 points while Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA) and Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT) each grabbed six rebounds to share game-high honors as the Lyons enjoyed a 32-22 advantage on the glass. Wheaton, who was making its first-ever appearance in the ECAC championship game, ends its outstanding season with a 19-11 record.

2007 ECAC Division III Women's New England Basketball Championship

First Round - Wednesday, February 28, 2007

#8 Rhode Island 46
#1 Colby-Sawyer 44

#7 Nichols 53
#2 WPI 61

#6 Castleton State 42
#3 Endicott 58

#5 Suffolk 51
#4 Wheaton 63

Semifinals - Friday, March 2, 2007 (highest remaining seeds)

Rhode Island 67
Wheaton 69OT

Endicott 48
WPI 59

Championship Game - Saturday, March 3, 2007 (highest remaining seed)
Wheaton 57
WPI 58

MVP: Meghan Pajonas, WPI