DEDHAM - There's a reason why the Foxboro High School girls' basketball team has turned its fortunes around, but it might not be what you think.

The Warriors, who improved to 4-1 Wednesday with a 44-20 victory over Quincy in the opening round of the Dick's Sporting Goods Holiday Tournament at Dedham High, still struggle a little with their in-close shots - but if they get enough opportunities, they can't help but win.

Rebounding was the Warriors' lifeblood for victory against Quincy, as they mounted a 68-38 advantage off the glass, including 26 offensive rebounds and five putback baskets.

"I've known all summer and fall that we were going to have a height advantage," said Foxboro coach Sarah Behn, "not just at the center, but at the two, three and four positions as well. And even our point guard is decent sized, so where we've struggled scoring sometimes, I think (rebounding) can be a way for us to stay in our games if we do it at both ends."

Foxboro's rebounding was not only impressive in its volume, it was spread around evenly up and down the lineup. Sophomore center Samantha Briggs led the way with 14, followed by senior Jackie Perry's 12, senior Shannon Robinson's 10 and nine apiece by junior Tara Greeley and sophomore Rehema Strouble. Not only were the Warriors taller than the Presidents, they worked hard to get outstanding position under the basket despite Quincy's best and most physical efforts to muscle them out of position.

"The last couple of victories we've gotten, that's been a category that has really helped us," Behn said. "We've got some things to work on, but I'm very optimistic."

Foxboro put the game away early with a 14-2 run over the first 7:11 of play. Briggs, the 5-11 center who comes in as the first player off the bench, had both of her putback baskets in the run, and Greeley added a pair of rebound scores as Foxboro mounted a 22-6 rebounding edge in the run.

Quincy cut the lead to 14-6 on a drive to the basket by Leslie Campbell, but the Warriors outscored the Presidents 6-2 over the last 6:39 for a 20-9 halftime lead.

Quincy's Brighid Kyle, the only player in the game to score in double figures with 10 points, opened the half with a baseline drive, but Foxboro netted 14 of the next 16 points to put the game out of reach. Freshman point guard Kristen Hoffman, who played an outstanding game in terms of floor leadership and poise, scored a pair of baskets in the run.

While Foxboro didn't place a player in double figures, the scoring was balanced - Robinson had nine and Greeley, Briggs and Strouble had eight apiece. Foxboro also shot a strong 12-for-14 from the foul line. But Behn still saw the 22.9 percent shooting (16-70) from the field as an area where improvement will be needed to stay alive in the Hockomock League race.

"Finishing and composure," she said. "This game got a little sloppy at times and we probably should have had 50 or 60 points. But coming from where we were last year, this is a game that we put away, and I'm really proud of them. We're doing some really good things."

Foxboro will play host Dedham at 7 tonight for the tournament title.