Worcester, Mass. (November 19) -- Led by a 23-point effort from junior guard Gabrielle Gibson (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague), the  Assumption women's basketball team remained unbeaten with a 68-57 win over Caldwell College on day two of the 2011 Assumption College Tip-Off Classic. The Hounds are receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN Division II National Preseason Poll.

Assumption opened up a 12-point lead midway thru the first half after a jumper from junior forward Sabrina Siciliano (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield-Warde) made it a 20-8 score with 10:06 left in the opening period. The Hounds kept up the pressure with a 17-6 run to lead by as many as 23 points with 2:26 remaining before taking the 39-16 advantage into the halftime break. Siciliano led the Hounds with 11 points in the half, along with 10 points from Gibson. Assumption held Caldwell to just 25 percent shooting in the first half, forcing 14 Cougar turnovers.

The Hounds led by as many as 26 points in the second period and still held a 20-point lead at 56-36 with 7:39 left in the game. Caldwell answered with a 16-6 run, capped by a three-pointer from Torey Jones, to cut the lead down to 10 points for the first time since the 12-minute mark of the first half. Jones helped Caldwell get as close as eight points at 65-57 in the final minute before the Hounds came away with the 11-point victory.

Gibson led the Hounds with 23 points to go along with four assists and three steals, along with 15 points and nine rebounds. Senior All-American candidate Kelly Meredith (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) nearly had a double-double as she finished up with nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds.  Jones led the Cougars with 20 points, along with 17 points from Gillian Felix and 11 points from Jeanette Anderson.

Assumption improves to 3-0 overall, while Caldwell is now 1-2 overall on the season. The Hounds are back in action on Tuesday, November 22nd as the team hosts Southern Connecticut for a 5:30 p.m. start at Laska Gym.

Assumption Tip-Off Classic All-Tournament Team
Kelly Meredith – Assumption
Sabrina Siciliano – Assumption
Torey Jones – Caldwell
Amy Pelletier – Stonehill
Laura Rivera – Molloy