(Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson women's basketball team opened the 2012-13 season with a 64-52 win over visiting Goucher College on Thursday night. The Gophers held a slim, 28-27, lead at halftime but the Devils outscored the visitors, 37-24 in the second half.

The Red Devils had a strong start, pulling in front, 12-4, with just under 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Goucher went on a 14-6 run to pull even at 18-18, with 5:13 to play in the half.

The Gophers stretched the lead to six but the Devils battled back. Senior Dana Walsh (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) led the charge, scoring a lay-up and a pair of free throws to knot the game at 26-26.

Senior Belma Mekic (Sarajevo, Bosnia/Cedar Cliff, Pa.) traded a free throw for Goucher field-goal to give the Gophers a one-point advantage as the teams went into halftime.

Goucher gained a quick three-point edge to start the second half, but Dickinson regained the lead for good with 17:10 remaining in the game. Senior Bridget Borgese (Swarthmore, Pa./Notre Dame de Namur) converted a pair of free throws before a Mekic jumper gave the Devils the lead for good in the early minutes.

The Devils held the lead, but could not pull away until a late run secured the win. Latifah Butler cut the lead to a field-goal with 7:54 to play in the game before Dickinson made a final push. An 11-2 run, capped by a Sarah Phillips (West Amwell, N.J./South Hunterdon) lay-up, stretched the lead to 53-42, with 5:15 on the clock.

Phillips finished an assist from Mekic to give the Devils their biggest lead of night, 60-44, at the 3:13 mark. Dickinson held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game to open the season 1-0.

Four players reached double-figures for the Devils as Borgese and Phillips each finished with 15 points and seven rebounds while combining for five steals on the night. Mekic had a strong start and finished with 14 points, five assists and two steals, adding four rebounds as well.

Walsh was dominant on the boards with a game-high 10 rebounds, giving her a double-double on the night with 10 points as well, behind 4-of-6 shooting from the floor.

Sharnell Huff led Goucher with a game-high 19 points while Butler finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

The Red Devils are home again this weekend, hosting the Days Inn Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Dickinson will face Shenandoah University on Saturday at 6:00 pm, following by Penn State Berks and Lynchburg College at 8:00 pm. The consolation game is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Sunday, with the championship game at 4:00 pm.