WALTHAM, Mass. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's basketball team endured a torturous third quarter that led to a 61-45 loss at host Brandeis University this evening in the first round of the Brandeis Invitational presented by the Park Lodge Hotel Group at Red Auerbach Arena in Waltham, Mass.
The Lyons dip to 0-1 on the season, while the Judges improve to 1-0 in the season opener.
Wheaton owned a 20-2 lead in the opening quarter, but Brandeis flipped the script in the third quarter with a torrid 26-1 run to turn an 11-point halftime deficit into a 14-point advantage heading into the final quarter of play.
The Lyons shot 31.1% (19-61) for the game, including 4-22 (18.2%) from three-point range. The Judges inside game overwhelmed Wheaton with a 47-35 rebounding margin and a 30-10 points in the paint differential.
The Lyons started three first years, including forward Abi Weidman (Glastonbury, Conn.), who ripped down 12 rebounds in her collegiate debut for the most rebounds by a Wheaton newcomer in their first game since at least 2003 and the most by any Lyon in the season opener since Jenny Champney '10 pulled down 13 caroms vs. Roger Williams University on November 17, 2009. Wiedman added five points, two assists and a steal. Sophomore forward Katelyn Cadmus (Pawcatuck, Conn.) contributed with eight points, six rebounds and an assist, while first year Emma Toriello (North Berwick, Maine) led the Lyons with 10 points on 4-8 from the floor to go with two rebounds and a steal in her collegiate debut.
First year forward Charlotte McDonough (Gansevoort, N.Y.) led all players with 13 points, including 7-7 from the line, for Brandeis and added four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot. Senior forward Claire Candela (Maynard, Mass.) netted 12 points on 5-10 from the floor in addition to pulling down nine rebounds and dishing for two assists. Senior guard Sofia Berisha (Old Tappan, N.J.) posted a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds to go with three assists and two steals.
Brandeis sophomore center Annabelle Kenny (Westminster, Colo.) scored the first points of the game on a lay-up, before Wheaton went 7-10 from the field, including 6-8 from three-point range, during a blistering 20-0 stretch to take a 20-2 advantage with 2:47 left in the first quarter. Toriello and first year guard Molly Gunning (West Haven, Conn.) each fueled the run with six points apiece for the Lyons. The Judges scored the final six points of the quarter, capped by a pair of free throws from junior guard Saviah Shabazz (Plano, Texas) to cut the deficit to 20-8 at the end of the quarter.
Brandeis closed to within 21-12 after a Candela layup with 6:07 showing on the second quarter clock. Wheaton responded with six straight points, including a jumper from Gunning to give the Lyons a 27-12 lead with 4:37 left in the period. Candela ignited an 8-2 burst with a three-pointer to pull the home team within 29-20 with just 23 ticks left before the intermission, but sophomore guard Sydney MacCalla (Middletown, N.Y.) made a layup to give Wheaton a 31-20 halftime lead.
The Judges were 8-16 in the third quarter and held the Lyons without a made field goal (0-11) and forced eight turnovers. Brandeis reeled off 23 unanswered points to begin its dominant third quarter. McDonough netted seven points and Berisha scored six to lead the Judges during the quarter.
Wheaton scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, including a layup from Toriello, to pull the Lyons within 46-36 with 7:54 remaining in the game, but it was as close as they would get for the rest of the contest. Brandeis scored the next seven points, including five from Berisha, to take its biggest advantage of the evening at 53-36 with 5:41 to go in the quarter.
Wheaton returns to the hardwood tomorrow to play in the consolation game at 12:00 p.m., while the Judges host the championship game at 2:00 p.m.
