Box Score BRISTOL, R.I.—The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team opened up their season with a come-from-behind 61-60 victory over Brandeis University Wednesday night in Bristol, R.I.
 
The first quarter opened up with a quick layup by forward Mariah Nicholas (Acushnet, Mass.). It took a little bit for either team to score after that but Nicholas put up another layup, assisted by Anna Walther (Northampton, Mass.). Nicholas would add another point for the Hawks on a free throw after a foul by Hannah Nicholson.
 
The Judges finally got on the board on a layup by Joelle MarkAnthony halfway through the first quarter. Sophia Trachtenburg swished a three-pointer to pull within one. Trachtenburg then gave her team the lead with a layup.
 
The first quarter would stay pretty even as both teams were working to shake off the first game nerves. Katie Goncalo's layup would lead Brandeis into the second quarter with a 15-12 lead.
 
Jillian Petrie kept Brandeis' momentum going with a jump shot out of the break. The Hawks would try to respond, but the Judges kept the Hawks away from the lead. The Hawks would come close to tying it up late in the second quarter, but the Judges carried a 27-25 lead into the half.
 
Brandeis started the second half with two made free throws by Goncalo.
 
The Judges would eventually get out to a double-digit lead in the third quarter and take a 50-38 lead.
 
The Hawks had a lot of ground to make up in the fourth quarter and a Nicholson jump shot to start the quarter would not help. The Hawks began to close the gap in the middle of the final quarter. They eventually tied it up with 2:27 minutes left at 56 on a pair of Nichols made free throws.
 
An Eva Hart layup just under two minutes gave Brandeis back the lead. The Hawks pulled within two after Teagan Dunn (Burlington, Conn.) made both her free throws.
 
A foul on Sam Mancinelli (Peabody, Mass.) brought Sarah Jaromin to the line. She missed both free throws and Dunn grabbed the rebound.
 
In Hawks' territory, Walther grabbed the ball out of the inbound play and passed it to Gabby Jerahian (Quincy, Mass.), whom took a long three-point which found the bottom of the net. The Hawks took the 61-60 lead with nine seconds left.
 
Brandeis tried to make one last effort but could not score.
 
Nicholas led the Hawks with 26 points. Dunn grabbed 12 points and led with 12 rebounds. Walther had six assists in 34 minutes played.
 
The Hawks will travel to Medford, Mass. this weekend to participate in the MIT Invitational and will face Tufts University and MIT.