NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 16, 2012) – Avis Benjamin (Queens, N.Y.) led the way with an impressive 15 point /15 rebound double-double as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team began its season with a 66-52 win over the College at Old Westbury. The Ducks will move on to the Championship Game of the Hunter College Tip-Off Classic at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Friday's matchup marked the first collegiate head coaching win for Stevens coach Megan Haughey, and it was a relatively comfortable first outing for the new leader. The Ducks led 43-26 at the break and made six of their 12 three-point shots in the first period.

Stevens started two freshmen: Dylan Krause (Atlanta, Ga.) and Miranda Ripken (Fallston, Md.). Both played exactly 32 minutes with 13 and 12 points, respectively, in their collegiate debuts. The pair trailed only Benjamin for the most individual points by either side in the game.

A layup by senior Maggie Kowalska (Edison, N.J.) with 13:42 to go in the first half gave the Ducks the lead for good, and a three-pointer hit by Ripken six minutes later pushed the Stevens lead into double digits. The Panthers never got within 10 of the Ducks in the second period as the Castle Pointers cruised to victory.

Kowalska finished with 10 points and eight rebounds in her collegiate basketball debut…Stevens dominated the boards and grabbed 53 rebounds to Old Westbury's 37…Krause led the team with five assists and three steals…a total of 10 players saw action for the Ducks.

Stevens will take on Bay Path College at 3p.m. on Saturday at the Hunter SportsPlex in Manhattan for the tournament title.

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