NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- The Wheaton Women's Basketball team lost its opening game of the season to Maine Maritime Academy, 58-45, on the first day of the Lafrance Hospitality Tournament, hosted by University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at Tripp Athletic Center in North Dartmouth, Mass.

The Lyons fall to 0-1 on the season, while the Mariners improve to 1-0.

Wheaton ran out to an 8-2 start in the opening minutes, and eventually led 14-8 at the conclusion of the first quarter. Senior guard Abby Fernandes (Assonet, Mass.) finished the night with 16 points to lead the Lyons and added a pair of rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior guard Kiki Walters (Fleetwood, Pa.) chipped in with seven points and a game-high three steals.

Maine Maritime controlled the rest of the game, winning the next three quarters and taking a 27-24 lead into halftime before outscoring the Lyons 31-21 in the second half. The Mariners were led by senior guard Erianna Moore (Fitchburg, Mass.) who scored a game-high 20 points and played all forty minutes. Senior forward Sydney Briscoe (Englewood, N.J.) collected a double-double for the Mariners dropping 11 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. 

Wheaton and Maine Maritime each had similar shooting numbers from the field, converting on 20 field-goals, the difference for the Mariners came from the three-point line and the foul line. Maine Maritime shot 6-18 from beyond the arc and were 12-17 from the charity stripe. The Lyons struggled from downtown, hitting on just 2-12 from three and were not regulars at the line shooting 3-6. 

The Mariners grabbed its biggest lead midway through the third quarter when they took a 52-35 lead after a three-ball from Moore. Maine Maritime never trailed in the second half. 

Wheaton College will return to action at the Lafrance Hospitality Tournament tomorrow at noon when they face off with Union College in the consolation game. Maine Maritime will play in the championship game against the host UMass Dartmouth following the consolation game.