BRISTOL, R.I.  -- The Brandeis University women's basketball overcame a nine-point deficit in the final 4:30 tonight as the Judges closed on a 15-4 run to defeat Roger Williams University, 73-71, on the road. With the win, the Judges improve to 3-0, while the Hawks fall to 2-1. 

The Judges were down, 67-58, after RWU's Angela Ariola hit a lay-up to match the Hawks' largest lead of the game. Brandeis scored the next eight points, with sophomore Tori Dobson (Greenwich, Conn. / Greenwich) and senior Hannah Cain (Gloucester, Mass./Gloucester) hitting two free throws each. Cain had a steal and a lay-up to cut the deficit to three, while sophomore Sydney Sodine (Dix Hills, N.Y. / Half Hollow Hills West) did the same, getting the Judges back within one at 67-66 just one minute and 11 seconds after they had been down nine.

The home team got a free throw from Mariah Nicholas to push the lead to two, but Brandeis junior Niki Laskaris (Swampscott, Mass./Swampscott) hit from deep to push the Judges ahead, 70-69, at the 2:56 mark. Ariola put the Hawks back on top 40 seconds later with a driving lay-up, but she was unable to convert a traditional three-point play. After two possessions that saw the clock bleed down, Cain connected on a jumper to put Brandeis back on top with 1:20 remaining. The Judges forced another RWU turnover, but were unable to convert, and the hosts were fouled on a rebound. Nicholas hit one-of-two with 44 seconds left, tying the game at 71-71, but Sodine grabbed the rebound.

On their next possession, Brandeis called timeout with 36 left, drawing up a play to get Laskaris open from beyond the arc. Her attempt was off the mark, but Sodine grabbed the rebound and put it back with what proved to be the winning bucket with 16 seconds remaining.  Ariola had two more shots to tie it, but each time Sodine grabbed the defensive board to preserve the win.

The Judges put five different players in double figures, led by Laskaris's 15 points, all on five 3-pointers. Sophomore Frankie Pinto (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) added 13 points with three trifectas, while Sodine, Dobson and sophomore Maria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) all had 10 points. Sodine had a terrific all-around game, grabbing eight rebounds and adding four assists and four steals. Cain added eight points, five steals and four assists. The Judges enjoyed margins of 27-15 in points off turnovers and 16-7 in second-chance points.

RWU was led by Ariola's game-high 22 points, while Nicholas finished with 19 and Rachel Batista had 15, the latter two scoring off the bench. The Hawks' Allysa Otis led all players with nine rebounds, while Battista had three assists for the home team.

Brandeis returns to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. against fifth-ranked Tufts in their second-straight road game. RWU hosts Suffolk on Tuesday.