WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Babson College women's basketball team shot 64 percent from the floor in the first half thanks to a balanced attack and an assortment of high-percentage shots, built a 19-point halftime lead and was not challenged until the final minutes in a 77-69 non-conference victory over Eastern Connecticut State University in the season-opener for both teams Saturday evening at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
 
Ranked 25^th nationally, Babson led wire-to-wire, scoring the first seven points of the game and upping the lead to as many as 21 points in the first half before the Warriors cut the Babson lead to single digits on a handful of occasions in the fourth quarter, getting as close as seven points on a three-point field goal from senior Jenna Serrantino (Cromwell) with two-and-a-half minutes left.
 
Eastern outscored Babson by 11 in the second half but could not dig out of the early hole which included 40 percent shooting over the first 20 minutes.
 
A balanced offense featuring five players scoring between 11 and 14 points keyed the Beavers, who also got between four and six rebounds from five different players.  Six-foot-one inch senior Samantha Smith and sophomore guard Katelyn Mollica both had 14 points for Babson, with six-foot sophomore Camilla Silk contributing 13 points (6-for-6 shooting) in 14 minutes off the bench.
 
Senior guard Julie Keckler (Trumbull) of Eastern led all players with 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, with senior Mariah Dunn (Meriden) adding 15 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor and seven rebounds. In her first career start, six-foot sophomore Taylor Salato (East Haven) led both teams with nine rebounds and added two blocks and senior All-America Anna Barry (Andover) came off the bench for 12 points on 50 percent shooting and two blocked shots.
 
Eastern visits Trinity College Wednesday at 7 p.m. in a non-conference match.