WALTHAM, Mass. - Brandeis University senior forward Lauren Orlando (Peabody, Mass.) earned MVP honors by averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, including 12 points and eight boards in today's championship game, as the Brandeis women's basketball team defeated 15th-ranked Bowdoin, 71-44, in the championship game of the Brandeis Tip-Off Tournament today. In the consolation game, Western Connecticut defeated Widener, 62-44.
Brandeis (3-0) combined stifling defense and hot shooting to defeat the Polar Bears (1-1). The Judges connected on 51 percent from the field (25-49) and 47.1 percent from 3-point range (8-17), while holding the Polar Bears to just 22 percent (13-59) overall and 30.8 percent from downtown (8-26). The hosts also used a 45-34 edge in rebounding. Brandeis trailed only once in the contest, 5-3, and went on to score 15 unanswered points to take an 18-5 lead that was never smaller than nine points the rest of the way.
Orlando finished the game with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field and eight rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. Junior guard Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y.) led the team with 13 points, connecting on 5-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Sophomore reserve forward Amber Strodthoff (DePere, Wisc.) tied for game-high honors with nine rebounds (four offensive) off the bench, while sophomore guard Diana Cincotta (W. Boylston, Mass.) had a game- and career-high five assists in her second collegiate start. Junior backcourt mate Lauren Rashford (Whitesboro, Mass.) had a terrific all-around performance with nine points, eight rebounds and three steals, tied for game-high honors.
Bowdoin did not put any players in double figures, with senior Jill Anelauskas (Medfield, Mass.) leading the Polar Bears with eight points. She also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, including five on the offensive end. Junior forward Leah Rubega (Norwich, Conn.) also had a fine performance on the glass, with eight rebounds, six offensive. Senior Maria Noucas (Portsmouth, N.H.) led the Polar Bears with three assistst.
In the first game, WCSU (2-1) put three players in double figures, led by junior Katie Moffo's (Southington, Conn.) 14 points. Sophomore guard Heather Lee (Seymour, Conn.) added 12 points and six rebounds, tied for game-high, honors, while sophomore guard Karli Spera (Waterford, Conn.) had 11 points and a game-high six assists. The Colonials owned a 14-7 edge in second-chance points and held Widener to 24 percent shooting (12-50) from the field and 21.4 percent from deep (3-14). Western Conn. did not trail after the first five minutes of the contest, ending the first half on a 24-8 run that put them ahead, 37-21, at the break.
Widener (1-2) was paced by senior Beth Dessart Mager (Newtown Square, Pa.), who had nine points, connecting on 4-of-10 from the floor with a 3-pointer. No other member of the Pride had more than seven points. Juniors Lindsey Isler (New Hope, Pa.) and Rayne Reber (Pottstown, Pa.) tied for team-high honors with four rebounds, while classmate Becky Tyler (Wynnewood, Pa.) had a game-high three assists.
In addition to Orlando, the All-Tournament team consisted of Rayne Reber from Widener, Katie Moffo of Western Connecticut, Jill Anelauskas and Katie Bergeron from Bowdoin, and Jessica Chapin from Brandeis.