BRUNSWICK, Maine – Behind five three-pointers and a game-high 21 points from junior Amanda Horvers (Kingston, N.Y.), the Mount Saint Mary College women's basketball team opened the NCAA Tournament with a dominant, 73-50 victory over Emmanuel College on Friday in Maine. The Knights (26-2) will play Bowdoin College, winners over Salve Regina University in the other first round game in Brunswick.

The Knights bolted out of the starting gate as Horvers bookended an opening 10-2 run with a pair of three-pointers. Leading comfortably for much of the half, the Knights seized a 13-point advantage when junior Jen Mocanu (Belford, N.J.) knocked down a three-pointer with 1:44 remaining, giving the Mount a 30-17 cushion. After a bucket from Emmanuel, Mount Saint Mary closed the half on a 6-0 run and took a 36-19 lead into the locker room.

The Saints closed the gap to 15 with the opening basket of the second half, but the Knights responded with a 9-1 run. Mocanu's jumper at the 15:29 mark capped the run and made the score, 45-22. Emmanuel would not threaten down the stretch, as the lead stayed between 19 and 26 points for the remainder of the contest.

Horvers hit on 5-of-9 attempts from long range and also made 4-of-5 at the line to finish with 21 points. Mocanu poured in 18 points on 8-of-16 from the field, while senior Jess Tice (Altamont, N.Y.) and sophomore Kate Hartnett (Floral Park, N.Y.) each chipped in with 10 points. Tice completed a double-double with 11 rebounds and Hartnett fell just short with eight boards.

The Knights shot 45.5-percent from the field as a team and hit on 8-of-16 three-pointers. They held a massive, 48-27 advantage on the glass and limited Emmanuel to just 35.0-percent from the field. The Saints also struggled from behind the arc, making just three of their 16 attempts.

Seeking their first ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen, Mount Saint Mary will take on the host Polar Bears, 14-1 in their own building during the NCAA Tournament, in a second round game on Saturday. The tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.