NEWARK, Del. — Daemen University women's basketball opened its season and the WilmU Tip-Off Tournament with a 78-44 win over tournament host Wilmington on Friday afternoon. 

The victory marked Nate Beutel's first as the Daemen head coach after he was tabbed to lead the program back in September. 

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Claire Pikett (Holland, N.Y.) led the team with 14 points. She also contributed a career-best eight steals and collected five rebounds. 
• Joline Raposo (Tampa, Fla.) scored 11 points and recorded nine steals off the bench, breaking the program's NCAA era record for the most steals in a game, previously set at seven. 
• Kaylee Marvin (Ontario, N.Y.)  logged 12 points off the bench on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. She also collected four rebounds and recorded a block. 
• Cecilia Lapertosa (Whitesboro, N.Y.) posted 12 points and logged three steals.
• Shyla Montgomery (Brockton, Mass.) dished out a team-leading four assists, logged six steals, and scored five points. 
• Ne'vaeh Buntley (Rochester, N.Y.)  recorded six points and grabbed a  team-leading six rebounds. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Daemen opened the game with a strong defensive presence, quickly capitalizing on turnovers. Lapertosa initiated the scoring with a layup, followed by Sophie Auer's (Lewiston, N.Y.) fast-break layup after a steal. Montgomery contributed defensively with multiple steals and an assist, while  Pikett and Buntley extended the lead with layups. 
• Daemen surged ahead in the second quarter, capitalizing on turnovers to create scoring opportunities. Montgomery's presence was felt with a defensive rebound leading to an assist for Lapertosa's layup at 8:30. 
• Pikett's 3-pointer at 5:11 further extended the lead. The quarter saw the Wildcats execute a 26-point effort while limiting Wilmington to just 10 points. Daemen entered halftime leading 42-21.
• Daemen held a 17–5 scoring advantage in the third quarter. Pikett sparked a pivotal sequence with a steal and fast-break layup at 8:41, followed by contributions from Montgomery and Auer, who each scored in transition. Daemen's defense was instrumental, forcing ten turnovers, and the team finished the quarter with a commanding 59–26 lead.
• Daemen maintained control in the fourth quarter, with Brianna Caliri (Staten Island, N.Y.) contributing significantly with a defensive rebound and a block, followed by a key jumper at 7:44, assisted by Buntley. Marvin added a 3-pointer at 8:47, extending the Wildcats' lead. Daemen's consistent scoring, including a late layup by Morgan White (New Carlisle, Ind.) at 2:02 that kept them ahead. 

GAME NOTES

• Damen outscored Wilmington in every quarter and never trailed in the game, leading for all 40 minutes. 
• The Wildcats recorded 36 steals and scored 41 points off turnovers. The 36 steals are Daemen's most in a game in its Division II era. 
• Daemen also outscored the home side 35-21 in bench points as 11 different players scored. 
• Daemen shot 42.9 % (33-of-77) from the field.
• The Wildcats' defense held Wilmington to 21% shooting (12-of-56).
• Daemen is now 16-5 against CACC opponents since the start of the 2015-16 season (program's NCAA Division II era).

UP NEXT
The Wildcats wrap up the WilmU Tip-Off Tournament with a neutral site game against Goldey-Beacom on Saturday at 3 p.m.