FRANKLIN, Mass. – November 6, 2021 – The Dean College women's basketball team defeated Lesley, 59-45, inside Pieri Gymnasium to begin the 2021-22 campaign.

Today's game marked the first win at Dean for head coach Laura Habacker.

Dean (1-0) will begin a stretch of three road games on Wednesday with a 5 p.m. tip at Mitchell. Lesley (0-1) travels to Anna Maria on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game with the AMCATS.

The Bulldogs were led by junior Alexah Potter (East Hartford, Conn.). She posted an impressive double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead all players in each category. Senior Shania Springer (Brooklyn, N.Y.) filled the stat sheet with 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists. In her collegiate debut, first-year Catherine Thomas (Woodbridge, Conn.) grabbed 10 boards.

Lesley received nine points from sophomore Alexandra Kerley (Boca Raton, Fla.) and junior Sydnie Drezek (Seymour, Conn.). First-year Kizziah Ruff (Cambridge, Mass.) pulled down a team best eight rebounds.

The first quarter was low scoring with each team making four baskets as they returned from nearly two years away from competition. After the Bulldogs took an 8-2 lead, midway through the frame, Lesley battled all the way back to take a 9-8 lead after 10 minutes.

The pace picked up in the second quarter as Dean outscored Lesley 19-15 to take a 27-24 lead at the half. Springer and Potter combined for 16 points in the quarter to give Dean the 3-point advantage.

The Dean defense stepped up in the third to hold Lesley without a made field goal. The Lynx did convert eight of their 12 free throw attempts. Dean shot 8-for-20 thanks to Potter controlling the paint. She scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds to give Dean its largest lead of the game at 47-32 after three quarters.

Lesley had a 13-12 edge in scoring in the fourth, but Dean held a comfortable lead throughout the frame to earn the 59-45 victory.

The Bulldogs controlled the glass with a 62-39 advantage in rebounding.