Dickinson women’s basketball opened up their season with a win that advanced them to the championship game of the Days Inn Tip-Off Tournament. The Red Devils pushed past Hood College with a 78-70 victory on Friday, Nov. 19, but fell to Widener, 78-58, the following day. The tournament was hosted at Dickinson College.

If this tournament was any sign of the season to come, Dickinson will be carried by the young talent in the first-year class. The Red Devils started four first-years and Sam Kennedy ’16.

Erica Buls ’17 led the way with 16 points. Buls was a presence on the defensive end as well, helping out with 8 rebounds and four blocked shots in the semi-final game alone. “I had a lot of fun making my collegiate debut this weekend and I am really happy that it went as well as it did,” said Buls.

Mary Martin ’17 also had a college debut that suggests a promising career over the next four years at Dickinson. She recorded a double-double, 13 points and 10 rebounds, and came up with two steals as well.

The points were scattered across the roster, reflecting the deep and talented bench that the Red Devils have at their disposal. Four other Dickinson women earned double-digit stats against Hood. Sarah Phillips ’15 and Liz Schultz ’15 scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. Close behind were starters Sam Kennedy ’16 and Jennifer Smith ’17 with nine points each. Per usual, Phillips was a force to be reckoned with defensively. She grabbed 5 defensive rebounds in her 18 minutes.

Hood came out strong, catching the young Dickinson team on their heels. Perhaps it was nerves, but, the Red Devils fought back and ended the first half with a 37-33 lead.

From there the two teams battled back and forth for a lead, tying the game 13 times, until the Red Devils pulled ahead with just over 10 minutes left to play. Dickinson kept the up the pressure and managed to net two free throws by Smith with 2 seconds left to play.

Against Widener, Buls once again led the way with 15 points. Smith and Martin had 14 and 13, respectively.

Dickinson’s next game is Nov. 20, at Johns Hopkins at 7:00 p.m. This will open the Red Devils’ Centennial Conference schedule. “We just have to come out strong and with a lot of intensity and we will alright,” said Buls.

They return home to face Haverford on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m, in the first men’s-women’s doubleheader of the season. The women’s game will take place after the men’s. Last season, the Red Devils went 1-1 against both Johns Hopkins and Haverford.