Nationally-ranked Carnegie Mellon highlights the field at the 24th annual Damon’s/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Tournament at Wilmington College Friday and Saturday.
The Tartans are ranked No. 18 in the country and features one of the best Div. III players in the nation in senior Lisa Murphy.
The tournament begins 6 p.m. Friday when Wilmington College meets Olivet (Mich.). The second game between Carnegie Mellon and Transylvania is set to tip-off at 8 p.m. Friday.
The consolation game in the tournament will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday with the championship game scheduled for 3 p.m.
Murphy had 24 points, 22 rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists in the Tartans 74-45 season opening win against LaRoche Tuesday.
She averaged 23.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game last season and is Carnegie Mellon’s all-time leading scorer.
Transylvania was 19-8 a year ago but features a roster void of seniors — three juniors, six sophomores and six freshmen.
Sophomore Kristen Hayes averaged 15 points and four rebounds a game last year for the Pioneers.
Olivet lost its top three scorers from last season’s 13-13 team. The Comets are led by T’Keyia Collins and Katie McKinnon, both averaged 6.3 points per game last season.
Wilmington opened its season Tuesday with a down-to-the-wire win over Denison 59-56. Mary Moyer made a three-pointer with just under two seconds to play to lift the Quakers to the win.
Mackenzie Campbell, a DIIINews freshman All-America player last season, led WC with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two assists. Moyer finished with 12 points and six rebounds, in addition to a sterling defensive effort on Denison’s Jordan Holmes.
2015 TIP-OFF: Franklin won the 2015 Tip-Off tournament behind MVP Lauren Desutter. Mackenzie Campbell debuted in the Tip-Off tournament last season for the Quakers and made the all-tournament team as a freshman.
WORTHY RIVALS: Wilmington coach Jerry Scheve has tried to bring top teams to the event, rather than schedule two easy victories. The Quakers have won the tournament three times in the last nine seasons.
LOCAL FLAVOR: Several Clinton County players have earned tournament MVP honors in the Tip-Off event. In 1991, Deanna Arnold, an East Clinton graduate, earned MVP honors as Wilmington defeated Hanover.
In 1993, Katrina Butcher, a Wilmington High School grad, was MVP was the Quakers defeated Bethany for the title.
Finally, in 2002, Megan Woodruff earned top player kudos as WC defeated Thomas More for the championship.
DOUBLE TIME: Jenny Eagan, who led Wilmington to tournament crowns in 1995 and 1996, is the only player to win two MVP awards in the tournament.
FIRST TIME: This is the first appearance in the Tip-Off tournament for Transylvania and Carnegie Mellon.
NO GO: The tournament was not held in 1994 and 2006.
