New York, NY – Junior forward Andrea Buckham (Queens, NY/Flushing) scored 20 points and was just one rebound shy of a double-double as the Hunter women's basketball team opened up the 2008-09 season with a 60-52 victory over Saint Joseph's College in the first game of the Hunter Tip-Off Tournament Friday evening at the Hunter Sportsplex.

Hunter controlled the lead for a majority of the game, going up by as many as 17 points. Saint Joseph's made a late second half run to cut the lead to three points with 1:25 left, but the Hawks were able to ice the game at the charity stripe, sinking five-of-six free-throws to end the game.

Junior guard Deseree Boler (Bronx, NY/Patapsco) contributed with ten points, five assists and four rebounds in her Hunter debut, while sophomore guard Megan McKenna (Rockaway, NY/Midwood) added ten points and six rebounds.

The Golden Eagles had three players finish in double figures led by junior forward Trish McMahon (Patchogue, NY/Patchogue-Medford) who had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Junior forward Dana Carney (Patchogue, NY/Patchogue-Medford) finished with 13 points, while junior guard Carissa Pirotta (Northport, NY/Northport) put up 12 points for Saint Joseph's.

Hunter (1-0) will now face Oneonta State in tomorrow's tournament championship game at 3:00 p.m. Oneonta advances to the championship game after defeating Simmons College 76-40.