WESTON, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team closed out its most successful non-conference slate since 2014-15 tonight as the Judges defeated local rivals Regis College, 60-50. With the win, Brandeis improves to 8-2 in non-league games, their best start since an 8-3 beginning three seasons ago. The Pride fall to 4-5 on the season.
The Judges never trailed in this one, scoring the game's first eight points, and hanging on to take a 13-11 lead after 10 minutes. They went on to win the remaining three quarters as well. Brandeis went into halftime ahead 25-19 and was up 44-35 after three. The Judges pulled away in the fourth by opening on a 9-3 run, capped by rookie Jillian Petrie's (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) lay-up that gave the visitors a 15-point cushion – their largest of the game – at 53-38 with 6:06 to play. Brandeis rolled to the 10-point win from there.
Brandeis's starting frontcourt of sophomore Hannah Nicholson (Sunderland, Vt./Burr and Burton Academy) and Petrie were the team's top two scorers, combining for 23 points. Nicholson finished just shy of a double-double, with 12 points, tied for game-high honors, and nine rebounds. She scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half. Four of her nine boards came on the offensive glass. Petrie finished in double digits in scoring for the second game in a row and the fourth time this season with 11 points, seven coming in the second half.
Brandeis controlled the boards, 44-25, to help garner the victory. In addition to Nicholson, sophomore guard Katie Goncalo (Fall River, Mass./Tabor Academy) finished with six rebounds and junior forward Joelle MarkAnthony (Wallingford, Conn./Mark T. Sheehan) added five, four on the offensive glass. Brandeis had 18 offensive rebounds to just five for the Pride. The Judges were also able to take advantage of their turnovers – though both teams committed 17 miscues, Brandeis converted them into 18 points, compared to just nine for Regis. Judges senior captain Noel Hodges (Southampton, N.Y./Southampton) had three assists to lead the team.
Regis was led 12 points each from Maura Russell and Sam D'Angelo. Russell scored all of her points from behind the arc, shooting 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Brittany Stone added nine points and eight rebounds, while Nikki Bitinatis had a game-high five assists off the bench.
Brandeis kicks off University Athletic Association play this Saturday at 1 p.m. when they travel to rival NYU.