Val Beckwith '09 scored a team-high 17 points, going 7-for-12 from the floor and 2-2 at the line.

LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College defeated Husson College 96-54 in women's basketball on Wednesday night at Alumni Gymnasium, receiving a game-high 17 points by junior Val Beckwith (Woburn, Mass.) and 53 more points from its bench.

The host Bobcats (1-1) shot 58.7 percent from the floor, their highest shooting percentage since Jan. 17, 2006 (.585 against Babson). They played fierce defense too, holding the Eagles (0-3) to 35.8 percent shooting and forcing 39 turnovers, thanks in part to 22 steals.

Bates first-year Chelsea Pennucci (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) scored 14 points and sophomore Danielle Schaefers (Barrington, R.I.) added 10, as each player shot 5-for-6 from the floor and notched career highs in scoring. Senior Sarah Barton (Portsmouth, N.H.) dished out 10 assists to go with 3 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, while sophomore Kellie Goodridge (Merrimack, N.H.) recorded 9 points and a career-high 6 steals.

Husson junior Shelby Pickering (Lee, Maine) scored 13 points to go with 4 steals and 4 rebounds, leading the Eagles' own defensive effort that resulted in 27 Bates turnovers.

After falling behind briefly, 8-7, thanks to an 8-0 run by Husson, Bates embarked on a 29-5 run over 7 1/2 minutes of the first half, giving the Bobcats a 36-13 lead with six minutes left in the period The Bobcats led 47-21 at the half and dominated the second half, outscoring the Eagles in bench points 32-15 while building a lead as high as 46 points (96-50).

Bates will play St. Lawrence University this Friday at 8 p.m. in the first round of the Ed Hockenbury Classic at Norwich University. Husson next plays at Bowdoin on Friday at 7 p.m.

BOX SCORE: Bates 96, Husson 54