ASHLAND, Va. -- The Ferrum College women's basketball team opened the season with a 55-53 non-conference win over the Colege of Mount Saint Vincent in the first round of the Randolph-Macon Tip-Off Classic. Zarkia Mattox and Kemani Crawford both scored in double figures to lead Ferrum past the Dolphins, a team that went 22-6 and played in the NCAA Div. III Tournament last season.

Records
Ferrum (1-0), Mount Saint Vincent (0-1)

How It Happened
Ferrum led 15-10 after the first quarter and 25-15 at halftime in the first game using the NCAA's new women's rules (four 10-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves). The Panthers extended their lead to 43-30 after the third quarter, only to see Mount Saint Vincent make a game of it late with a 23-12 fourth-quarter run.

Key Stats
Ferrum: Mattox 12 pts, 7 reb, 8 steals, 4 asst; Crawford 10 pts, 8 reb; Lindsay Martin, Erin March, Krista Cox 7 pts each
Mount Saint Vincent: Christina Barone 3-5 3FGA, 19 pts; Gabriella Melgar 9 pts

Next Up for the Panthers
Ferrum competes in day two at the RMC Tip-Off Classic Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2:00 p.m. against Catholic University.