WALTHAM, Mass. – Mount Ida College hung tough in the first ten minutes of their 2013-14 season opener, but saw Brandeis University pull away for a 74-39 victory in both team's women's basketball opener at Red Auerbach Arena.

Junior Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, Mass.) opened the season with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds for Mount Ida.

Brandeis, the hosts of the four-team tip-off tournament, used a 21-0 run to seize control of the game after the teams were tied at 14 halfway through the first period.

Senior Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, Conn.) scored nine points on 4-10 shooting from the field and hit the only three-pointer of the night, and Alysha Dunbar (Quincy, Mass.) led the team with four assists.

Rafuse had a block and two steals on the defensive end for Mount Ida.

Brandeis, who outrebounded the Mustangs 63-42, got eight boards from their top scorer, Nicolina Vitale (Clinton Township, Mich.). Vitale poured in 19 points on 9-11 shooting from the floor. She was joined in double figures by Paris Hodges (Southampton, N.Y.), whose ten points all came in the first half. Hodges had seven rebounds and let the Judges with five assists.

On defense, Vitale and Hodges had four and three steals, respectively, and Angela Miller (Sicklerville, N.J.) had four blocks to go with seven points and six rebounds.

Mount Ida freshman Angelique Martinez (Taunton, Mass.) had six quick points to start her career as a Mustang, but was held scoreless after the opening minutes. Martinez did grab six rebounds, matching the effort of Fedigan, and was credited with two steals.

Mount Ida will play in the consolation game of the tournament at 1:00 pm on Saturday afternoon against Eastern Nazarene College, who fell 77-59 to Colby in the other opening round game on Friday.

The Judges will face off against the Mules at 3:00 pm in the tournament championship game.