WESTON, Mass. -- Senior forward/center Kasey Gieschen (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes) notched her first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds today as the Brandeis University women's basketball team closed out 2009 with a 66-55 win at Regis College.
Gieschen had eight points and seven boards in the first half as the Judges (7-2) trailed the Pride (6-4) by two at the break, 30-28. The game was tied as late as 8:46 remaining in the second half at 46-46. Regis took a 49-48 lead on a 3-pointer by Megan Tobin one minute later, but Brandeis closed the game with am 18-6 run over the final 7:46 to emerge with the win. Gieschen had five points in the closing run, including the go-ahead bucket, while sophomore Morgan Kendrew (Cotuit, Mass./Barnstable) added nine of her 17 points, including six-of-six from the free-throw line down the stretch.
In addition to Gieschen and Kendrew, who scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half, senior Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) had 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and a game-high four steals. Her assist total matched classmates Carmela Breslin (McKees Rocks, Pa./Oakland Catholic) and Lauren Rashford (Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro). The Judges used depth to earn the win, outscoring the Pride's bench by a 23-5 margin, while converting 19 Regis turnovers into 22 points.
Regis got a game-high 19 points from Brittany White, who also had eight rebounds. Jessica Page added 14 points and Stephanie Crawford had 10 points, eight caroms and a game-high five assists.
Brandeis is next in action on Tuesday evening when they play host to the University of New England, coached by former assistant Anthony Ewing, at 7 p.m., before opening University Athletic Association play at New York University a week from Saturday.