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BOX SCORE

MAHWAH, NJ (www.oldwestburypanthers.com) – The SUNY College at Old Westbury women's basketball team christened the 2010-11 campaign with its sixth consecutive season-opening victory over the Penn State Abington Friday evening at the Ramapo Roadrunner Tip-Off Tournament in Mahwah, New Jersey. Old Westbury earned an 84-54 non-conference victory, punching their ticket to take on the Ramapo Roadrunners in the championship game at 3 p.m.

The Panthers (1-0) had four players in double figures led by freshman Deslyn Applewhaite, scoring 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor (2-4 3FG) in addition to five rebounds (three offensive), four assists and two steals. Freshman point guard Kim Weathers produced an all-around game with 14 points, a game high seven steals and five assists to go with four boards. Abigail Williams added 10 points, six rebounds (four offensive), two blocks and a steal in 19 minutes of court time.

OW's bench was led by Denise Zajonc as she sparked the Panthers 11 points, knocking down 4-of-7 from the field and ripping down four rebounds in 11 minutes. Freshmen Ruth Vargas (16 minutes) chipped in with eight points and five steals while DeAndra Scott (19 minutes) totaled seven points and grabbed five rebounds. 

Penn State Abington (0-2) was led by Trish Watson's game-high 32 points, while Samantha Frick followed with 16 points and Kim Breslin pulled down nine rebounds (game-high).

The Panthers shot 45.1 percent (32-of-71) from the floor and outrebounded Penn State Abington 48-40. Old Westbury's bench outscored Penn State-Abington 30-0.

Penn State-Abington struggled to adapt to the Old Westbury defensive attack as they shot 29.3 percent (17-of-58) from the floor and committed 38 turnovers resulting in 30 points while accumulating 23 steals for the Panthers.

Old Westbury found themselves in an early 9-1 hole with 17:46 remaining and responded with a 23-5 run over the next 10:54 and never looked back. The Panthers outscored Penn State 20-13 to close out the first half led by Deslyn Applewhaite's 16 points as OW took a commanding 44-27 lead into the locker room.

Old Westbury's second-half lead climbed to 37 points, after Abigail Williams knocked down a jumper at 3:56 (80-43) and Denise Zajonc * sank a pair from the charity stripe at the 3:37 (82-45) mark. Old Westbury shot 40.6 percent (13-of-32) from the floor in the second half, and forced Penn State-Abington into 14 second-half turnovers as PSU-Abington shot a cold 22 percent (9-of-41) from the floor.

RAMAPO ROADRUNNERS UP NEXT IN THE ROADRUNNER TIP OFF TOURNAMENT FOR THE PANTHERS: Old Westbury returns to the court on Saturday (Nov. 20), taking on the Ramapo Roadrunners (2-0) in the championship game of the Roadrunner Tip-Off Tournament in Mahwah, New Jersey. Game-time is set for 3 p.m. at Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center.

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