Dean Women's Basketball Opens Season in Style with 70-51 Dominance Over Maine-Presque Isle
FRANKLIN, Mass. — The Dean College women's basketball team tipped off its 2026–27 campaign in emphatic fashion Saturday afternoon, securing a decisive 70-51 win over the University of Maine, Presque Isle at Pieri Gymnasium.
With the season-opening win, the Bulldogs are 1-0 overall, while the Owls are 0-1.
Dean quickly made it clear who was in charge of their home court. With an inspired early surge that featured four successful three-pointers, the Bulldogs enjoyed a 19-6 lead after a quarter of play. While Maine-Presque Isle responded well in the second quarter and narrowed the gap slightly, Dean was able to take a lead into halftime.
In the second period, Dean maintained its dominance by posting a 39-28 advantage for the final two quarters, with a maximum lead of 21 points late in the fourth quarter.
Senior Jordan Ellis had a fantastic start to the season for the Bulldogs as she excelled in her positions on the floor and made sure she put up a terrific double-double. Ellis delivered a stellar performance in the game, scoring 20 points at an impressive shooting rate of 7-of-12, including three three-pointers, and grabbing 12 rebounds (six offensive, six defensive), which was also the highest of the game. She was also effective on the defensive side, making five steals and anchoring a solid press of Dean in her 29 minutes of play.
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First-year Savannah McCarthy was indispensable for her presence inside the paint and on the glass with a commendable all-around performance. McCarthy contributed 11 points and eight rebounds, which included three offensive boards, as the Bulldogs dominated the battle under the basket and led throughout the contest.
First-year Sarah Berube brought a potent perimeter spark off the opening tip, lighting up the scoreboard from beyond the arc. Berube finished with 11 points, connecting on 3-of-10 from three-point range, while also contributing three assists and a steal to help jump-start Dean’s explosive first-quarter surge.
Despite the tough road loss, the Owls fought hard to stay within striking distance through the middle quarters, led by a gritty offensive effort. Nevaeh Bello paced the Presque Isle attack with a team-high 12 points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers and grabbing two rebounds in 22 minutes before ultimately fouling out late in the contest. Aleyah Matheson also chipped in a solid all-around game with 10 points and a game-high five steals, while Lindsay Hamilton added eight points and five boards to anchor the frontcourt.
With the 70-51 victory safely in the books, Dean College (1-0, 0-0 GNAC) couldn't have asked for a better tone-setting performance to start the 2026–27 campaign. The Bulldogs displayed incredible defensive energy—turning 23 forced turnovers into 20 points—and showcased impressive depth by getting 18 points off the bench.
As the season progresses, head coach Megan Dixon and the team will look to build consistency on their perimeter shooting (connecting on 8-of-27 from deep) and tighten up ball-handling as they prepare not only for the game against the University of Maine at Augusta on Sunday at 12 PM, but also to navigate the competitive Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) schedule. If Saturday's opener is any indication, Pieri Gymnasium is going to be a tough place for visiting teams all winter.
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