WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team led from wire-to-wire and used a stifling first-half defense to defeat visiting Wellesley College, 61-38, in the opening round of the 2023 Judges Invitational, presented by the Park Lodge Hotel Group.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis: 1-0.
• Wellesley: 1-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Judges raced out to a 14-2 lead just six minutes into the contest, hitting a couple of 3-pointers from graduate student Francesca Marchese (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island) and junior Mollie Obar (North Yarmouth, Maine/Greely) and two buckets from sophomore Brooke Reed (Chantilly, Va./Westfield).
• The Judges held the Blue to just 3-16 (18.8%) from the field in the first period, while hitting 8-17 (47.1%) of their own, including 5-10 (50%) from 3-point range, as the hosts took a 25-6 lead.
• Brandeis continued its excellent defense in the second period, when Wellesley hit just 4-18 from the field (22.2%), while hitting on 7-16 (43.8%) to push the halftime lead to 42-14.
• Wellesley was able to contain the Brandeis attack in the second half, when they outscored Brandeis 24-19, but it was too little, too late for the Blue.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Making her first career start, Reed had a terrific all-around performance. She recorded career-highs with 13 points and eight rebounds, both game-highs as well.
• Reed did not miss a shot, going 6-for-6 from the floor and making her only free throw. Five of her eight rebounds came on the offensive glass.
• Reed also had a team-high two steals.
• Ten different Brandeis players contributed points, with three scoring eight or nine points. Marchese and first-year Carlie Marrella (Ashland, Mass./Ashland) each hit two 3-pojnters and finished with eight points, while sophomore forward Katherine Vaughan (Bedford, Mass./Bedford) scored nine.
• Junior forward Caitlyn Gresko (Howell, N.J./Howell) pulled down six rebounds, while senior guard Selenya Gonzalez (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Central) had a team-high three assists.
• Wellesley was paced by 12 points each from Trinity Barrow and Jiyun Chae. Barrow also led the Blue with eight rebounds, tied with Reed for game-high honors.

UP NEXT

• The Judges will face Oberlin College in tomorrow's Judges Invitational championship match at 2 p.m.
• The Yeowomen outscored Kean University, 24-10, in the fourth quarter to take an 80-72 victory in their semifinal.
• Wellesley will face the Cougars in the consolation game at 12 p.m. tomorrow.