BOSTON, Mass. – Senior guard Michelle Fauci (Boxford, Mass.) connected on all seven field goal attempts she took for 16 points, to go along with eight rebounds and four assists as the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's basketball team opened the 2009-2010 season with a 75-51 win over Thomas in a non-league contest played at Tansey Gymnasium.

Wentworth, which had three other players in double figures, led from start to finish in this one and used an 11-1 run over the final 4:16 of the first half to take a 39-23 lead at the break.  Fauci had 12 points in the first half, while junior forward Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y.) and freshman forward Meaghan Murphy (Rutland, Mass.) had eight points apiece.

The Leopards started the second half where they left off, using a 19-2 run to extend their lead to 33 on a three pointer from senior guard Meaghan Gardner (Shrewsbury, Mass.) with 14:45 to play.  The Terriers would trim the lead to as few as 20 points, but could get no closer.

Vallone scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while freshman forward Morgan Furman (Falmouth, Maine) added 12 points and seven rebounds.  Murphy finished with 10 points.  Sophomore guard Karin Bird led the Terriers with a game-high 25 points.

Wentworth is in action Tuesday night at MIT, while Thomas is idle until Friday when the Terriers are at the Colby Tip-Off Tournament.