From Brandeis University Athletics

The Brandeis University women's basketball team rode a big second quarter tonight to defeat Mitchell College, 67-46, in the opening round of the Brandeis Invitational. The Judges improve to 1-1 on the season and will meet Eastern Nazarene tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the championship game. The Mariners fall to 0-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Judges owned a 15-9 lead after one period as seven different players hit field goals.
• In the crucial second quarter, Brandeis outscored Mitchell, 23-11. The hosts outshot the Mariners, 53% (10-19) to 18% (2-11) and outrebounded them, 10-7.
• Brandeis did just enough in the second half to keep Mitchell at bay, outscoring the visitors, 29-26, after the intermission.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Judges used a stifling defense that converted 28 Mariner turnovers into 31 points, while Mitchell scored just four points of the 17 Brandeis miscues.
• Brandeis also outrebounded Mitchell, 48-40, including a whopping 21-10 on the offensive glass. That advantage translated into an 18-3 margin in second-chance points.

BRANDEIS LEADERS

• The Judges put three players in double digits in scoring.
• Sophomore Hannah Nicholson (Sunderland, Vt. / Burr and Burton Acad.) recorded her first career double-double with career-highs of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Five of her 11 boards came on the offensive glass.
• Rookie Camila Casanueva (Santa Barbara, Calif. / Dos Pueblos) also netted 12 points off the bench. She hit 4-of-7 overall and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc with a free throw. She also led Brandeis with three assists.
• Rookie Jillian Petrie (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) reached double digits for the second time in as many games with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from the line. Petrie also tied for game-high honors with senior Eva Hart (Manasquan, N.J. / Manasquan) with four steals.