BRANDEIS POWERS PAST WOMEN'S HOOP TEAM

WALTHAM, Mass. — The Brandeis University women's basketball team led nearly wire-to-wire tonight as the Judges defeated Emmanuel College, 66-54, in non-conference action in Red Auerbach Arena tonight. With the win, Brandeis improved to 4-1, their best start since winning their first five games of 2009-10. The Saints fall to 2-4 on the campaign.

Brandeis led for all but 15 seconds after sophomore guard Frankie Pinto (San Clemente, Calif.) scored the game's first bucket, a 3-pointer, about two minutes in. The Judges had a balanced attack, with five players scoring between eight and 13 points. Sophomore forward Maria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y.) led the way with 13 points and 10 rebounds (four offensive), for the double-double, which was the second of her career. Jackson had 9 points and six boards in the second half. She also tied for team-high honors with three assists and had four steals, both career-bests.

Classmate Sydney Sodine (Dix Hills, N.Y.) stuffed the stat sheet, finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and a game- and career-high six steals. She also had three assists on the night. Junior guard Niki Laskaris (Swampscott, Mass.) added 10 points, while Pinto and rookie guard Noel Hodges (Southampton, N.Y.) had eight points each.

Emmanuel was led by senior captain Vanessa Bramante (Stoneham, Mass.), who led all scorers with 14 points and was one of three Saints players with five rebounds. Junior guard Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) also had a terrific all-around game with nine points, a game-high eight assists and five rebounds, three of which came on the offensive glass.

Brandeis owned a 33-26 lead at halftime, as Pinto and sophomore guard Kyla Gabriel (Tivoli, N.Y.) had six points each. The Judges shot 37 percent (10-27) to open up the seven point lead, while holding EC to 26 percent (10-39). The visitors pulled within one point with 16:41 to go, when rookie Karlee Alves (Ellington, Conn.) connected from downtown to cut the lead to 36-35. Sodine hit two free throws on the other end, sparking a 9-0 run and the Judges never looked back.

Brandeis returns to action on Tuesday, December 2nd, at home against Anna Maria College at 7 p.m.  Emmanuel hosts Amherst College at the same time.

- Release Courtesy of Brandeis University Sports Information