With 33 points and 12 rebounds through two games, Caitlin Malcolm '07 was named most valuable player of the Brandies Tip-Off Tournemanet. In the season's first two games, Malcolm showed signs of a sophomore surge to come. Malcolm scored 20 points and hauled in eight rebounds as the Judges knocked off Mount Holyoke 57-42 to win the championship game of the Brandeis Tip-Off Tournament. Brandeis cruised past Russell Sage with an 89-32 win the previous night, in which Malcolm contributed 13 points and four rebounds. The Judges are off to a 2-0 start.

The Judges improved upon a slim one point lead at halftime to eventually lead by 11 points with about three and a half minutes remaining. Although the struggles from the perimeter did not go away, the Judges were able to more effectively capitalize on second chance scoring opportunities on offensive rebounds.

The return of Basia Grzyb's '07 offense in the second half after early foul trouble was instrumental for the Judges to maintain their up tempo offense and revitalize the squad with energy. Malcolm led three Judges in double figures, as Christine Clancy '07 scored 14 and Grzyb put up 10. Amanda Demartino '06 had seven rebounds and a game-high six assists. Brandeis flustered the Lyons into 26.7 percent shooting for the game while also forcing 19 turnovers.

Ranked 22nd in the country by D3hoops.com, the Judges did not defeat Mount Holyoke easily, taking nearly four and a half minutes to get on the scoreboard. The Judges continued to struggle offensively, shooting 29 percent and 63 percent from the free throw line and a woeful 1-11 from three-point range in the first half.

Coach Carol Simon was continually upset with the calls the referees slapped on her players down low in the post. Clancy had four fouls midway through the game and had trouble being aggressive defensively.

"There's always need for improvement in defense, because we're going up against much bigger girls and quicker teams," Malcolm said.

The Judges gave a full team effort in routing Russell Sage 89-32 the night before in the tournament opener as every player but one scored.

Clancy had a team-high 15 points to go along with five rebounds. She was nearly perfect from the line, making six of seven, and was nearly as masterful from the field, hitting four of six shots. Jamie Capra '08 had a very impressive collegiate debut for the Judges with 14 points coming off the bench.

The Judges held the Gators to only 20 percent shooting and forced an astonishing 26 turnovers.

"My first tournament here went really well," Capra said. "Here I'm surrounded by players who are all excellent on their own and as a team when we play together it's just incredible."

The Judges had a 45-20 lead at halftime and never looked back. In both the first and second half, the Judges shot over 40 percent from the field and made seven three pointers.

"I loved our intensity level and defensively we were really aggressive," Simon said. "I don't think we ever had a letdown."

Despite having a more than comfortable lead going into halftime, the Judges continued to play relentless defense, holding Russell Sage to a meager 12 points in the second half.

"The biggest thing was just making sure our post wasn't getting winded," Simon said. "I thought we did a good job just being able to rotate in and out."

The Judges host Wellesley College today at 7 p.m.