WALTHAM, Mass. - Brandeis University senior guard Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) notched her fifth career double-double with game-highs of 19 points and 13 rebounds this afternoon to lead the Judges past Bates College, 63-41, in the championship game of the Brandeis Basketball Classic, earning tournament MVP honors in the process. In the earlier consolation game, Mount Holyoke defeated Wentworth, 59-50.
Brandeis (4-0), ranked No. 9 in the nation by D3hoops.com and the WBCA, was paced by Chapin, who recorded her second double-double of the season and the sixth of her career. Thirteen of her 19 points came in the second half. Chapin connected on six-of-17 from the field with two 3-pointers and five free throws, while 11 of her 13 rebounds came on the defensive glass. Chapin also had a game-high three steals. The Judges also got a fine performance from sophomore Brighid Courtney (Southampton, Mass./Northampton), who also had a double-double with career-highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds, including seven offensive caroms.
Bates (1-1) got 12 points and five rebounds from rookie forward Annie Beaulieu (Swampscott, Mass./Swampscott). Bobcat senior standout Lauren Yanofsky (Belmont, Mass./Belmont) added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds, but the Judges held her to just three-of-19 shooting from the field a night after she connected on eight-of-12 for 18 points.
Brandeis won the battle of the boards, 57-40, and turned a 16-11 offensive rebounding advantage into a 15-4 edge in second-chance points. Despite losing the turnover battle, 21-17, the Judges were able to convert Bates miscues into 17 points, compared to just seven for the Bobcats.
Bates led the contest, 23-18, following a 3-pointer from rookie Taryn O'Connell (Georgetown, Mass./Georgetown) with 5:06 left in the first half. Brandeis responded by scoring the final 10 points of the stanza, including four by Courtney, while the visitors missed their final four shots, plus two free throws, and committed four turnovers. Brandeis went on another extended run in the second half, scoring 14 straight points over a seven minute span to push a 43-36 edge to 57-36 with 5:49 left and the Judges cruised from there.
In the opener, four Mount Holyoke (2-1) players scored in double figures, paced by a game-high 17 points by rookie guard Angelica Pascual (Lawrence, Mass./Proctor Acad.) to go with nine rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, to lead the Lyons to victory. Senior forward Jess Olson (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) registered a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while classmate Erin Cain (Quincy, Mass./Fontbonne Acad.) and sophomore forward Tricia Chase (Feeding Hills, Mass./Cathedral) each had 11 points. Cain also led all players with five assists. The key run in the game came midway through the second half. After WIT cut the Mount Holyoke lead to six at 39-33 with 9:23 remaining, Pascual scored seven unanswered points. That pushed the lead to 13 and the Lyons were able to hang on for the win.
Wentworth (2-2) also had a double-double performance, as junior forward Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y./Avon Central) finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Michelle Fauci (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet Regional) led the Leopards with 14 points and four steals.
In addition to Chapin as the Most Valuable Player, the All-Tournament team featured Brighid Courtney of Brandeis, Lauren Yanofsky and senior Kellie Goodridge (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack) of Bates, Angelica Pascal of Mount Holyoke and Michelle Fauci of Wentworth.