MEADVILLE, Pa. – Chatham Women's Basketball (1-0, 0-0 PAC) brought home a season-opening victory over the Rochester Institute of Technology (0-1, 0-0 LIB) on Saturday afternoon at Allegheny College by a final score of 64-40.
 
Despite two early three pointers from seniors Maria Barela and Hannah Chenault as well as a 10-2 advantage, the Cougars found themselves trailing 17-14 at the end of the first quarter after a 15-0 RIT run. The Tigers kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, leading 26-20 before Alyssa Laukus' layup to end the first half brought Chatham within 26-22.
 
A Julia Calvin three pointer opened half number two, and RIT would get their advantage to 29-27 before the Cougars completely took over the game. Five Chatham players would score in a 17-2 burst that included two more Calvin three-point baskets. After leading 44-31, the Cougars used three Laukus layups and two layups each from senior Madison Nereu and graduate student Emily Venick to close out the win on a 20-9 run.
 
Chenault and Laukus each tallied a game-high 14 points for Chatham. Laukus shot 6-11 from the field, also grabbing 8 boards along with 2 blocks, 5 steals and 3 assists in the victory. Nereu recorded her third consecutive double-double dating back to last season's PAC Tournament, putting up 10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Calvin shot 3-7 from beyond the arc, finishing with 9 points for the Cougars.
 
Chatham shot 39.7% (25-63) from the field while holding the Tigers to 25.9%. The Cougars won the turnover battle 21-14, and had 15 steals to RIT's 6.
 
Women's Basketball returns to the court in Meadville tomorrow, taking on #6 Washington and Lee at 1 p.m.