WALTHAM, Mass. – The Mount Ida College women's basketball team faced a difficult against Brandeis University in the season opener for both teams at the 2014 Brandeis Coaches vs. Cancer Tip-Off Tournament, and the Judges defeated the Mustangs, 85-36, on Saturday afternoon.

Mount Ida (0-1) was paced by sophomore Stephanie Champoux (Tewksbury, Mass) with eight points, while freshmen Shanell Nardone (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Imani Bumpus (West Hartford, Conn.) had six points apiece in their first game as Mustangs. Bumpus and Nardone also led the Mustangs with five rebounds apiece.

Brandeis (1-0) put four players in double figures, led by sophomore center Maria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y.), who scored 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor and 3-of-4 from the line. Junior guard Heather Cain (Gloucester, Mass.) came off the bench to pour in a career-high 14 points in 17 minutes of action. She hit 5-of-11 from the floor. Sophomore Sydney Sodine (Dix Hills, N.Y.) added a career-best 13 points on 6-of-8 in her first collegiate start, while junior Niki Laskaris (Swampscott, Mass.) rounded out the 10-point scorers with 12. 

Laskaris tied for game-high honors with six rebounds, matched by rookie Olivia Shaw (Saco, Maine), who had five on the offensive glass. Finally, senior Hannah Cain (Gloucester, Mass.) had seven points, four rebounds and two assists in her first game back from an injury that cost her her junior season. 

Mount Ida will play in the consolation game of the tournament at noon against Regis College. The Pride fell in the other first round game 66-60 to Salve Regina.

Brandeis will host the Seahawks at 2:00 pm in the championship game.