NORTON, MA- Senior Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School) poured in 20 points in just 15 minutes during the Wheaton College women's basketball team's 92-53 season-opening victory over Lasell College in the first round of its tip-off tournament on Saturday in Emerson Gymnasium. Hosting their 16th tip-off tourney, the Lyons advance to tomorrow's championship against Wentworth Institute of Technology, a 72-66 winner over Clarkson University in today's second contest.

Eleven Wheaton players cracked the scoring column in game one, as the Lyons handed out 29 assists on 39 field goals while shooting 54.2 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent from the three-point stripe. The Blue and White also held a 44-25 rebounding advantage. Wheaton's 29 helpers fell one short of the program's standard set in 1994, while its 39 buckets tied for fifth. Hickey hit 8-of-11 shots, making all four of her three-point tries, while classmate Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) contributed 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, going 4-of-7 from three-point territory, with five assists.

Freshman Gabbie DePalo (Rumson, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) had a strong debut with 13 points and five boards off the bench, and junior Ida Kruse (Vershire, VT/Rivendell Academy) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points to go alongside four boards. Junior point guard Andrea Bailey (Needham, MA/Needham) handed out a game-high six assists and grabbed a team-best six boards, while classmate Callie Schneider (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) converted all four of her attempts for eight points.

Lasell senior Shauna Kelly (Quincy, MA/North Quincy) tallied 14 points, four rebounds and four assists, classmate Katie Schumitz (Milford, CT/Joseph A. Foran) turned in 12 points and a game-best seven boards, and junior Tricia Culver (Northampton, MA/Northampton) had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

After knocking down 46.2 percent of their first-half shots in taking a 47-35 advantage at the break, the Lyons made 21-of-33 second-half shots for a 63.6 percent clip. In the latter frame, the Lasers cut their deficit to 10 three times in the early going, with the last coming at 51-41 with 18:46 to play, before the hosts scored 34 of the game's next 42 points over a 12:29 span for a comfortable 85-49 advantage with a little over six minutes to go.

The day's second contest saw Wentworth overcome a six-point halftime deficit in outscoring Clarkson, 43-31 in the final half en route to victory. After making just 38.2 percent of their shots in the opening frame, the Leopards put forward a 51.5 percent clip in the second half.

Wentworth senior Margo Ward (Mystic, CT/Fitch) led all scorers with 18 points to go alongside six rebounds. Sophomore Kirsten Vallone (Avon, NY/Avon Central) was one rebound shy of a double-double, totaling 17 points, nine boards and a game-best five steals. Junior Jessie Coffey (Wakefield, RI/South Kingstown) accounted for 15 points, classmate Michelle Moffo (Southington, CT/Southington) posted 10 points and six rebounds, while junior Michelle Fauci (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional) distributed a game-high 11 assists.

For the Clarkson, junior Michelle Reddinger (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) and freshman Carey Turner (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) led the way with 15 points each, with Reddinger pulling down a game-best 13 rebounds. Sophomore Sierra Noles (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) added 14 points and seven boards.

Following a first half that saw three lead changes and Clarkson pushing its advantage to double digits with five minutes to play before the break, Wentworth chipped away in the second frame and eventually forged a 48-47 edge by 12:50 on a Vallone jumper. Outside of a Reddinger lay-in that knotted the game at 58 with 6:35 on the clock, the Leopards held the lead the rest of the way. Clinging to a 68-66 lead in the waning seconds, Wentworth hit four free throws down the stretch to ice the win.

Tomorrow's consolation contest between Clarkson and Lasell will begin at 1:00 p.m., while Wheaton will aim for its seventh tip-off tournament crown in the title game against Wentworth at 3:00 p.m.