NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - November 19, 2016 - The Colby-Sawyer women's basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to pull away from Salem State and secure an 81-65 victory in the season opener on day one of the Tyler Tip-Off hosted by Smith College. 

The Chargers improve to 1-0 and will play Smith (2-0) on Sunday at 4 p.m. in the championship game. The Pioneers beat Daniel Webster 81-21 earlier on Saturday. Salem State drops to 1-2 and will play the Eagles at 2 p.m. in the consolation game. 

Colby-Sawyer freshman Lexie Hamilton (Sunapee, N.H.) shined in her collegiate debut as the starting point guard. She made five three-pointers and finished with a game best 25 points. Senior Kristin Ellis (South Easton, Mass.) also reached double figures with 16 points on 7-for-10 from the floor and grabbed a team best seven rebounds. Also making the most of her debut was freshman Tianna Sugars (Oxford, Maine). The forward scored 10 points in 11 minutes on 3-of-3 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. She added six rebounds. 

Salem State was led by Kaitlyn Bryan's 19 points. She went 8-for-9 from the free throw line and added a game best eight rebounds. Tyra Scott registered 14 points, while Norma Waggett rounded out the three Vikings' players in double figures with 13 points. 

The Vikings held a slim 14-12 lead after the first quarter and doubled the lead to four by outscoring Colby-Sawyer 27-25 in the second. The Chargers turned things around after halftime and found an offensive rhythm posting 44 points, including 27 in the fourth while holding Salem State to just nine points. 

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