BABSON PARK, Mass.—Junior Linnett Graber (Roseland, N.J.) and sophomores Giovanna Pickering (Hull, Mass.) and Ashley Snyder (Foxboro, Mass.) each scored 10 points as Babson College defeated visiting Vassar College, 66-55, in the season opener for both teams at the 18th Babson Invitational Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Staake Gymnasium.

Sophomore Taylor Russell (Braintree, Mass.) contributed nine points and three rebounds for the Beavers. Junior Megan Otto (Scituate, Mass.) had eight points and one rebound, while sophomore Jennifer Narlee (Medfield, Mass.) contributed eight points, six rebounds and two assists to the win.

Senior Allyson Pemberton (Weston, Mass.) had 15 points and three rebounds, while junior Colleen O'Connell (Maywood, N.J.) notched 13 points in her first game following a season off due to injury. Junior Caitlin Drakeley (Woodbury, Conn.) and freshman Ariella Rosenthal (Mill Valley, Calif.) each contributed seven points for the Brewers.

After a slow start the Green and White outscored Vassar 15-6 over the final 10:08 of the first half to take control of the game. Russell gave Babson its first lead of the contest at 15-13 with 9:19 left in the opening stanza, and a hoop by Pickering and a pair of free throws by Snyder pushed the bulge to 28-19 at the break.

The Beavers, who shot 58.6 percent (17-for-29), slowly pulled away over the final 20 minutes. The Brewers got within nine on a Drakeley jumper with 10:10 remaining, but the Green and White responded with a 15-6 run to open its biggest lead of the game at 53-35 with 6:01 to play. Narlee, Pickering and Snyder all had four points apiece during the spurt, while the defense held Vassar to just five field goals over the final 10 minutes.

Babson shot 46.4 percent on the night and scored 20 points off 21 Brewers' turnovers. The Beavers also outscored the visitors 34-12 in the paint.

Both teams return to action on Saturday as Vassar takes on Williams at 1 p.m., while Babson faces Rhode Island College at 3 p.m.