BABSON PARK, Mass. – Senior Preseason All-American Nicki Wurdeman (Rowley, Mass.) led all players with 28 points and 10 rebounds as the nationally-ranked Babson College women's basketball team opened its season with a commanding 95-45 victory over visiting Salem State University in a non-conference matchup at Staake Gymnasium on Tuesday night.

Entering the season ranked fifth in the country by D3hoops.com, the Beavers (1-0) won their 40th straight regular season game and their 25th in a row at home. They were led by Wurdeman's 28 points, which came on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and an 8-of-9 clip from the line. The senior captain also added five steals and three blocked shots – all of which came in the first half. Fellow senior captain Kathleen King (Framingham, Mass.) chipped in with 15 points, eight boards, and three steals and junior Preseason All-American Sarah Collins (Weymouth, Mass.) added 18 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks as the Beavers' front three combined for 61 of the team's 94 total points.

Salem State (0-1) was led by junior Madeleine Park (Blue Hill, Maine), who scored a team-high 12 points to go with five caroms, and junior Bridget Dullea (Peabody, Mass.), who added eight points and recorded a game-high seven steals. First-year Rachael Carter (Merrimack, N.H.) tossed in nine points in her first collegiate game, and junior Amy Barry (Manchester, N.H.) and sophomore Kristen Federico (Peabody, Mass.) each joined Park with five rebounds apiece. Babson's dominating performance spoiled the coaching debut for Vikings alumna Michelle Cunningham, who is in her first season after taking over for her former coach and legendary predecessor Tim Shea.

After Collins hit a lay-up for the game's first two points, Park knocked down a three-pointer to give Salem State its only lead of the contest less than a minute in. From there it was all Babson, as the hosts used an 18-6 surge over the next seven and a half minutes to build a commanding 22-9 advantage at the 12:41 mark. The lead would eventually balloon to as many as 30 later in the period before Dullea hit a lay-up with two seconds left to cut the Vikings' deficit to 48-20 at the break.

Salem State never threatened in the second half, as the Beavers started the session with a 15-4 burst to made it 63-24 with 15:26 left to play. Babson later pushed the advantage to as many as 51 on a pair of occasions before settling for the 94-45 victory.

Sophomore Liz Trainor (Beverly, Mass.) had a solid game off the bench for Babson, netting a career-high 10 points to go with five rebounds and two steals. First-year Nikki Heavern (Hull, Mass.) added five points, six boards, and two thefts in her collegiate debut, and junior point guard Allanah Wynn (Quincy, Mass.) netted four points and dished out a team-high four assists. The Beavers shot 49.3 percent (37-75) from the floor in the contest while holding a 57-38 rebound advantage and forcing 32 turnovers.

Babson returns to action with another home game this Thursday, as the Beavers host Brandeis University at 6 p.m. The Vikings will play the following day, when they host the City College of New York in the opening round of their own Salem State Tip-Off Tournament at 5:30 p.m.