PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Nov. 20) -- The Thiel College women's basketball squad dropped a 52-46 decision at La Roche College Tuesday evening to open its 2007-2008 campaign.

Junior guard Amber Bodrick (Boardman, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney) (Youngstown/Cardinal Mooney) led the Tomcats with 14, nine rebounds and a pair of blocks. Freshman forward Kim Stitt (Hermitage/Hickory) (Hermitage/Hickory) finished with 12 points and six rebounds while junior guard Catie Sieber (Glenshaw, Pa./North Hills) (Glenshaw/North Hills) added seven points and five boards.

Marlis Graves tallied a game-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds and five steals for the Redhawks. Chantelle Jennings added 10 points while Jena Kacsur and Staci Menzies each finished with six.

Thiel jumped out to a 12-4 lead with just over seven minutes gone by in the first period. Jacquaylia Kessler's free throw with 1:29 to play in the first closed out the first-half scoring as La Roche led 21-20 at the break.

Bodrick's layup with 8:28 remaining capped a 13-4 Tomcat run and gave the visitors a 37-36 lead. La Roche was able grab a 42-40 lead with just under six minutes to play and Graves' layup with just over two minutes remaining gave the Redhawks a 52-42 lead.

Thiel shot 35.1 percent (20-57) from the floor and held La Roche to just 32.8 percent on 22-of-67 shooting. The Tomcats managed a 45-28 rebounding advantage, but surrendered 11 offensive boards to the Redhawks.

Thiel will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 24 when it travels to Marietta College for the Jim Meagle Turkey Shoot. The Tomcats will take on host Marietta in the openeing round Saturday at 6 p.m.