WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Bard College women's basketball team defeated Lehman College, 56-43, in the opening round of the University of St. Joseph Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night.

Bard will play the host team for the tournament title on Saturday afternoon at 2.

Bard trailed 2-0, then never again, as the Raptors built a 10-point lead by halftime. Lehman cut the deficit to three in the third quarter, but key baskets from Thalia Grandinetti, Mae Redmond and Olivia Couture pushed the lead back into double digits, and Bard won going away.

"It was a physical game," Bard coach Casi Donelan said, "but every time we got pushed, we pushed back and I'm proud of that effort."

Grandinetti led Bard with 16 points, and she added five rebounds. Christina Kiser had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and she handed out six assists. Redmond and Couture contributed nine points apiece, while Couture and Maggy Peyton finished with nine rebounds apiece.

"Thalia made some big plays, and Christina did her thing running the show," Donelan said. "We're glad to have gotten the first win of the season out of the way, and we're excited to take on USJ in the championship game."

USJ defeated Lesley University in Friday's other game, 75-42.