Nov. 15, 2008

Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi University women's basketball team opened its 2008-09 season with a convincing 58-46 win over Merrimack College this afternoon at the Center for Recreation and Sports. The Panthers improve to 1-0, while the Warriors drop to 0-1.

Four players scored in double figures for Adelphi led by senior Serita Lee with 14 points off the bench and a game-high 17 rebounds, tying her career best. Freshman Ashley Caiafa tallied 13 points in her first collegiate game, while senior Jasmine Travers and junior Caitlin Wetmore added 10 points each.

The Warriors jumped out to a 6-0 start through 18:01. Caifa's jumper to put the Panthers on board sparked a 19-0 rally capped by a bucket from senior Danielle Parks with 7:20 left in the half. Adelphi went cold with 3:18 to go as Merrimack poured in nine unanswered points to close to within four, 27-23 at intermission.

Adelphi pushed its lead back to 10 early in the second half on a basket by Wetmore before Merrimack again closed the gap, 33-29, at 15:19. This would prove to be the closest they would get as the Panther lead ballooned to 14 points, 52-38, on a made basket by Travers with 4:08 remaining. Travers accounted for six of Adelphi's final nine points as they cruised to victory, 58-46.

Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with Adelphi connecting on just 3-of-14 or 21.4 percent. Merrimack faired slightly better at 26.1 percent (6-23). The Panthers outrebounded the Warriors, 44-38, 24 of which were offensive.

This marks the first time in four years that the Panthers have kicked off the season with a win. It also marks the first ever win in the new sports arena. Adelphi now ties its all-time series versus Merrimack, 4-4.

Next up, the Panthers travel to Lakewood, N.J. on Wednesday, November 19, to take on Georgian Court University at 7:00 p.m.