For Immediate Release:
January 4, 2024                                               Contact: Ryan Emerson, Sports Information Director

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Viau Scores 25 to Lead Dean Past Lesley, 71-60

FRANKLIN, Mass. – January 4, 2024 – The Dean College women's basketball team earned a 71-60 victory over Lesley in non-conference action Thursday night inside Pieri Gymnasium.

Dean (2-9) returns to conference play on Saturday with a 1 p.m. road game at Elms. Lesley (0-9) plays on Saturday with a 1 p.m. tip at UMaine-Farmington.

Junior Tori Viau (Johnston, R.I.) poured in a career-high 25 points to lead the Bulldogs. First-year Kendrah Doane (New Salem, Mass.) filled the box score with 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five steals. Junior Maranda Cournoyer (Millville, Mass.) was the third Dean player in double figures with 12 points. First-year Abi Boutin (Rocky Hill, Conn.) just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

Senior Alexandra Kerley (Boca Raton, Fla.) scored a team best 22 points to go with eight rebounds and five blocks for Lesley. Senior Jordan Blair (Melbourne, Fla.) registered a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards. Junior Paige Stowers (Waller, Texas) finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.

1^st Quarter

• Dean raced out to a 7-0 lead behind four points from Cournoyer and three from Doane.
• Lesley responded with a 14-4 run to close the quarter and take a 3-point lead into the second.
• Blair tallied five points and five rebounds to lead the Lynx. Kerley added five points.
• First-year Makayla Swan (Middlebury, Vt.) had four points and four boards for Dean.

2^nd Quarter

• The Bulldogs outscored Lesley 18-13 in the second for a 29-27 lead after 20 minutes.
• Four Bulldogs finished the half with six points apiece. Viau scored six in the quarter.
• Lesley was held to two field goals but went 9-of-12 from the free throw line.
• Kerley scored seven points to give her a game best 12 at the half.

3^rd Quarter

• The Bulldogs increased their lead to 45-36 with a 16-9 edge on the scoreboard in the third.
• Viau scored nine points.
• Dean had a 15-11 advantage in rebounding.

4^th Quarter

• In a high-scoring final stanza, Dean shot 50% from the floor (12-24), while Lesley made 60% of their attempts (9-15).
• The Bulldogs' lead ballooned to 15 late in the quarter en route to the 71-60 victory.
• Viau added another 10 points to give her 25 for the game.
• Stowers had nine points to lead the Lynx.