The Brandeis women’s basketball team started their season earlier this month, and have a 50% win rate so far. The team has played four games this season, facing off with Bridgewater State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Maine Maritime Academy and Emerson College.
In their first game of the season, the Judges fell to the Bridgewater State Bears in a 69-70 loss. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Judges trailed by 30 points, but managed to tie the game at 67 with 1:17 on the clock. A free throw put the Bears up by one, and they managed to cling to a one point lead and close out the game. The Judges’ top scorer was Emma Reavis ’23 with 16 points.
The Judges won their second game of the season against the RPI Engineers 80-73 in overtime. The Judges’ win in this game advanced them to the finals of the Brandeis Judges Invitational. The game was tied at 65 before the extra period, but the Judges outscored the Engineers 15-8 to take the win. The Judges’ top scorer once again was Reavis, with 19 points.
In their third game of the season, and the Brandeis Judges Invitational Finals, the Judges lost 59-67 to the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners. The Mariners were up by 10 points at the end of the first quarter, and didn’t let go of their lead for the rest of the game. Brandeis guard Francesca Marchese ’23 scored her 95th career 3-pointer during the game. The waiting now begins for Marchese to hit just five more threes, which will make her the ninth Brandesian to ever make 100 3-pointers in their career. The Judges’ top scorer was Caitlin Gresko ’25, with 13 points.
In their fourth and most recent game, the Judges faced the Emerson Lions and won 93-51. The Judges outscored the Lions in every quarter, and outscored them 28-6 in the third quarter before securing a victory with a strong fourth quarter. The Judges’ top scorer was Shannon Smally (GRAD) with 19 points.
The Judges’ next game is at home against Tufts University, where they’ll hope to push their win rate above .500. The season has just begun and the Judges have 21 more games to play in the regular season, 13 of which are within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Editor’s Note: Staff writer Francesca Marchese is a captain on the women’s basketball team and did not contribute to the writing or editing of this article.