NEW YORK, N.Y.  – Victoria Brown scored a game-high 28 points to lead the John Jay College women's basketball team to a 70-61 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Wednesday night at The Doghouse. With the win, the Bloodhounds open the season at 1-0, while the Engineers drop to 0-2.

John Jay built an early 9-4 lead, when Samantha Elitharp hit a three-pointer from the corner, midway through the opening quarter. The Engineers slowly trimmed away at the deficit, pulling with a one on several occasions, before a bucket from Brown gave the hosts a 15-12 advantage as the horn sounded to end the first.

Not three minutes into the second quarter, the Bloodhounds pushed their lead to 11 (26-15), thanks to a steal and layup from Ayanna Edwards. After a three from RPI's Ahnalese Pearson cut the deficit to eight (26-18), John Jay used to three Bobbi Green free throws and a basket from Edwards to push their lead back to 13 with 4:27 left in the half.

The Engineers closed out the half on an 8-2 run to pull within 33-26 at the break.

Both teams heated up from the field in the second half, with the Bloodhounds pushing their advantage to 12 (41-29) four minutes in. A free throw and a layup from Erin Doyle on the same possession cut the deficit to seven (41-34) with 5:01 left in the third, but RPI climb any closer the rest of the way.

RPI drew to within seven for the final time at the end of the third on a wing jumper by Ashlyn O'Neil.

Brown scored 14 points in each half, while collecting five rebounds, two assists and one steal. She was 12 for 21 from the floor and 4 for 6 from the free throw line. RPI was led Lolo Reynolds, who netted 17 points, with 11 coming in the second half.

The Engineers are back in action on Friday, when they open Bobcats Classic Tip-Off play against New England College (8pm). RPI then faces host Bates College on Saturday (2pm). The Bloodhounds visit St. Joseph's College (LI) on Saturday (1pm).