WBB Falls at Brandeis

WALTHAM, Mass. -- The Brandeis University women's basketball team opened its 2012-13 season in emphatic fashion today, as the Judges defeated the visiting Mitchell College Mariners, 89-45, in the opener of the 2012 Brandeis Invitational.

In tomorrow's championship game the Judges will face Springfield College, which defeated Trinity, 54-50, in today's second game. Mitchell and Trinity will play in the consolation game at 1 p.m.

Brandeis opened the first contest on a 13-2 run and rolled past Mitchell as 13 different players scored points in the game. The Judges were led by 16 points off the bench in just 20 minutes from sophomore Mikaela Garvin. Garvin set numerous career-highs in addition to scoring and minutes, as she pulled down three rebounds and had two assists and two blocks. She hit 5-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range.

Sophomore guard Hannah Cain added 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds, five on the offensive glass. She also tied with rookie Samantha Mancinelli and junior Julia Scanlon for game-high honors with five assists. Mancinelli also had five offensive rebounds as the Judges had a 56-26 edge on the glass, 23-7 on the offensive end.

Mitchell was paced by 13 points and six from rookie forward Amanda Garcia. Classmate Lauren Lohmar added six points off the bench on 3-of-7 shooting, but no other Mariner had more than two baskets. The visitors were held to just 15-of-52 from the floor (28.8%).

In the nightcap, Springfield held Trinity to just one field goal over the final 5:36 as the Pride erased a 10-point deficit. Trailing, 47-37, Springfield forced four turnovers and grabbed three offensive rebounds down the stretch, going ahead on a Meghan Biondolillo trifecta with 1:07 left.

Springfield sophomore Jaimie Bickelhaupt came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points in 23 minutes. She connected on 5-of-7 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line, with nine of her points coming in the second half. Biondolillo added 10 points and the Pride's only two 3-pointers, including the dagger at the end of the game. Junior forward Tamara Tribble added a game-high 12 rebounds, four on the offensive glass.

Trinity had three players score in double figures, including two off the bench. Sophomore Hannah Brickley and rookie Christina Raiti each had 11 points in reserve, while junior Abby Hancock had 10 as a starter. Junior Shantel Hanniford led the Bantams with eight rebounds, six offensive, while junior Moriah Sweeney had seven boards and matched Raiti with four assists each.