WALTHAM, Mass. — Foul trouble and a lockdown Brandeis defense clinched a 64-37 victory in favor of the host Judges on New Year's Eve at the Red Auerbach Arena. Gordon received double-digit scoring efforts from Brooke Kratche (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and Kristen Smith (Littleton, Mass.), but a lack of depth hurt the Scots at different moments down the stretch. The Judges improve to 7-2 overall, while the Fighting Scots fall to 2-8.
 
After falling behind 7-1 in the opening five minutes, Gordon responded with a flurry of points from Kratche and Smith within two points at 15-13. Shots from deep were kind to the Fighting Scots early on, as both Kratche and Smith hit to bring the deficit within striking distance.
 
However a 12-2 run over the next seven minutes haunted Gordon as they approached the midway point of the contest. The Fighting Scots struggled from the floor over the final 10 minutes of the first half after hitting a blazing mark during the first 10 minutes. Gordon only mustered six points after their initial spurt, with all six points coming at the charity stripe. Kratche and Smith were the only scorers in the first half for the Scots.
 
Gordon came out of the locker room with a renewed energy with consecutive buckets from Smith and Kratche to bring the game back within 17. Brandeis stopped any ideas of a run over the next five minutes, eventually growing its lead to 24 on a triple by Heather Cain (Gloucester, Mass.).
 
Freshman Shaulita Francis (Dorchester, Mass.) became the first player other than Kratche or Smith to score in the game at the 11:15 mark in the second half. It was Francis' first career point.
 
Brandeis put three players in double figures, paced by junior guard Heather Cain (Gloucester, Mass./Gloucester)with a career-high 17 points in just 16 minutes off the bench. Cain hit 6-of-9 from the field with a 3-pointers, and 4-of-4 from the line. Classmate Niki Laskaris (Swampscott, Mass./Swampscott) added 13 points on 5-of-13 overall, 1-of-5 from deep and 2-of-2 from the line. Heather's sister Hannah Cain (Gloucester, Mass./Gloucester), a senior guard, finished with 10 points.
 
Sophomore Sydney Sodine (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) led the Judges with seven rebounds – four offensive. She headed up a balanced attack that saw all 11 active players on the roster grab at least two boards en route to a 46-38 edge on the glass, including 16-9 on the offensive glass.
 
Ten of the 11 active Judges players had thefts, as the team forced Gordon into 28 turnovers and outscored the visitors, 27-3, in points off those miscues.
 
Gordon got 33 of their 37 points from two players. Senior guard Kratche led all players with 21 points, while rookie forward Smith added 12. Kratche hit 8-of-18 from the field, including her only 3-pointer, and hit 4-of-7 from the line. Smith was 3-10 from the floor with a trifecta and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
 
Junior Mariel Barner (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs) also hit a late bucket, the only one that fell for the rest of the Fighting Scots. Gordon hit just one of the 21 shots not taken by Kratche or Smith. Barner also led all players with 11 rebounds and had two assists. Kratche pilfered four steals for the visitors.
 
Gordon enters in the New Year by returning to Commonwealth Coast Conference action next Tuesday at home. Western New England comes to Wenham for a 7:30 p.m. tip. 

Portions of the release courtesy of Brandeis Sports Info