NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College women's basketball team captured the 16th Wheaton Tip-Off Tournament championship Sunday afternoon against Wentworth Institute of Technology, as the Lyons downed the Leopards, 72-57 in Emerson Gymnasium for their seventh title. In today's consolation contest, Clarkson University posted a 69-61 victory over Lasell College.

Senior Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School), who moved into fifth place on the school's all-time scoring list while surpassing the 1,200-point mark, was named tournament MVP after notching 13 points, six rebounds and three steals. Junior Andrea Bailey (Needham, MA/Needham) earned all-tournament honors with eight points and a game-high eight assists, which was one shy of her career best.

Junior Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA/Bedford) came within one board of a double-double, as she recorded 19 points with a game-high nine rebounds and three blocks. Freshman Gabbie DePalo (Rumson, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in just 14 minutes, while senior Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) added eight points and a career-high seven assists.

Wentworth sophomore Kirsten Vallone (Avon, NY/Avon Central) led all scorers with 21 points to go along with six rebounds, four blocks, three assists and three steals while being selected to the all-tourney team. Junior Jessie Coffey (Wakefield, RI/South Kingstown) tallied 12 points and five boards, while classmate Michelle Fauci (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional) turned in 10 points and four assists.

The Leopards hung tough in the early going, as the teams battled through four lead changes and a pair of ties in the opening half, with the visitors carrying a 28-26 edge into the intermission. A Champney three 35 seconds into the second stanza gave Wheaton a 29-28 lead, its first since the 5:02 mark of the first frame, but Vallone responded with a lay-up 24 seconds after the Champney bucket. At 18:48, Bailey knocked down a jumper that gave the Lyons a 31-30 advantage and a lead that wasn't relinquished.

Wentworth kept things close through the first half of the period, including trailing 50-45 with less than 10 minutes to go, but the hosts went on an 11-2 run during 2:32 to put things out of reach. The Lyons eventually extended their lead to as many as 16 points twice, as Wheaton hit 64.3 percent of its second-half shots. For the game, the Blue and White held a 41-30 rebounding advantage while picking up 21 assists on 28 field goals.

During today's consolation contest, junior Michelle Reddinger (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) led Clarkson to victory with game highs of 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, as her second double-double in as many days led to an all-tournament team choice. Freshman Carey Turner (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals, while sophomore Lauren Pluchino (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) added nine points.

For Lasell, senior Shauna Kelly (Quincy, MA/North Quincy) posted 20 points and six boards, while junior Tricia Culver (Northampton, MA/Northampton) was voted to the all-tourney team after scoring 17 points to go alongside eight rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Both teams shot well in the opening half, with Clarkson hitting 54.8 percent and Lasell 51.6, as the Golden Knights carried a 40-38 edge into the break following a period that had two lead swings and a pair of ties. A Kelly lay-up at 17:25 of the second half brought the Lasers to within 42-40 before a 7-0 Golden Knight run in 1:17 made it 49-40. Lasell eventually trimmed its deficit back to three following a three from sophomore Katie Farr (Rindge, NH/Conant) at 9:50, but back-to-back treys by Pluchino again made it a nine-point margin. The Lasers got to within four on two occasions but came no closer.