The College's women's basketball team finished its first week of play with a 3-1 record after wins over Catholic University, Dickinson College and Ursinus College and a loss to DeSales University.
The Lions beat the previously undefeated Catholic University of America Cardinals 73-61 on Nov. 21 in their home opener.
Senior guard Margo Buchalski had nine points in the win.
In the first 3:50 of the second half, Catholic went on a 10-1 run to bring the score to 36-30 with 16:22 left in the game. After a timeout, the Lions pulled their offense together for the win.
Buchalski finished the game with a career-high 15 points while senior forward Breanne Depken finished with a career-high 14 rebounds and 13 points.
"I think we worked very well together against Catholic," Buchalski said. "They made a few runs and we countered them together. Every person on the floor made a major contribution whether it was offensively or defensively."
On Nov. 19, the Lions fell to 1-1 after a 72-50 loss to the DeSales University Bulldogs in the championship game of the Starter's Pub Tip-Off Tournament. DeSales improved its record to 2-0.
With six minutes left in the first half, the Lions were up 20-18. But junior forward Amanda Kuperavage added five points for the Bulldogs, who made seven free throws before the half for a 32-20 lead.
The Lions tightened the score to 32-22 before the Bulldogs used a 12-2 run to shut down the College's offense.
Lions sophomore guard Lisa Koch added 11 points, and freshman center Alex Gregorek tallied 10 of her own. Depken totaled six points, four rebounds and three assists, earning her All-Tournament team honors.
"I thought our loss to DeSales was due to our inexperience together as a young team," Koch said. "I think we will continue to grow stronger as the season progresses. DeSales came to play and we didn't. That loss woke us up and made us rethink our goals of the season, which led us to a big win over Catholic University on Tuesday night. We came ready to play."
On Nov. 18, the Lions started off their season with a 53-48 win over the Ursinus College Bears, which qualified them for the Starter's Pub Tip-Off Tournament championship game.
The game marked the 300th win for the College's head coach Dawn Henderson. After 13 years with the Lions, her overall record was 300-143 after the Ursinus game.
The Lions led at halftime 21-20 after a 10-2 run during the end of the first half.
"For our first game it was pretty exciting," sophomore forward Hillary Klimowicz said. "We were only up by one at the half, but (Henderson) seemed very calm and had a lot of confidence in us."
Depken finished the game with 12 points, while junior guard Sara Best and Klimowicz each added eight points for the Lions.
The Lions then beat the Red Devils of Dickinson 38-37 on a last minute shot by senior guard Megan Hueter Monday night.
The College will travel to Moravian College tomorrow for its next game at 7 p.m. and will return home this Saturday to host the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University at 1 p.m.
