DIX HILLS, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University women's basketball team won its season opener over Five Towns College, 66-31, out on Long Island on Thursday evening. The Maccabees begin the year 1-0, while the Sound drop to 2-1.

"I am really proud of the team's effort tonight," Yeshiva University head coach Michael Alon said. "They played well defensively and made timely shots. For a young team, this is a step in the right direction."

The Sound averaged 76.5 points per game coming into their matchup with the Maccabees, but Yeshiva's defense held Five Towns to 31 points for the evening.

Leading the way for the Maccabees was junior forward Tehilla Teigman, who scored a game-best 19 points and brought down eight boards, while dishing out two assists and forcing a pair of steals. Senior forward Michal Alge just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. The Boston native also dished out a game-high four assists and led all players with five steals. Senior forward Nicole Bick added 15 points to go along with four steals, two rebounds, and a pair of dimes.

In the opening quarter, sophomore forward Lindsay Brandwein received a feed from Teigman and laid the ball up and in, to put Yeshiva up by a score of 12-5. With 27 ticks left in the quarter, Alge successfully converted a layup to equal the Macs' largest lead of the period, 15-7.

In the second stanza, a layup by Brandwein capped off a 10-4 run by the Maccabees, putting the visiting team up by a score of 26-14. After Five Towns narrowed the gap, Alge countered with a 3-point field goal to put YU back up by 12, with 1:43 to play in the half. With just 34 seconds left in the second period, sophomore forward Leah Shulman successfully executed a jump shot to give Yeshiva its largest lead of the half, 31-17. That would be the score at the intermission.

The Maccabees continued to play relentless defense in the third, holding the Sound to just seven points in the 10-minute frame. Yeshiva also broke the game open, by scoring 10 unanswered points to take a commanding 43-19 advantage. Teigman capped off Yeshiva's run by forcing a steal and laying the ball up and in off a fast break. The third quarter concluded with the Macs up, 47-24.

Yeshiva remained aggressive in the fourth, outscoring Five Towns, 19-7, during the final 10 minutes of the contest. The Maccabees went on to earn the convincing victory, 66-31.

For the game, Brandwein added eight points with seven boards, while Shulman chipped in with six points and a rebound. Sophomore forward Celia Cohen had a balanced game with six points and five boards. Sophomore guard Chana Boltax recorded two points, grabbed three rebounds, added a helper, and collected a steal.

Second-year guard Adina Rosenberg grabbed two caroms and scored a point, while junior forward Ellie Parker and first-year player Elizabeth Pavel each grabbed a rebound of their own. Senior guard Penny Rabin brought down three rebounds and forced a steal, while first-year player Lauren Rudberg collected two caroms and dished out an assist.

The Maccabees will take on the host Bearcats of Baruch College, at the ARC Arena, on Monday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.