Box Score 
MEDFORD – Led by Maggie Russell and Sofia Rosa's 17 points, the Tufts University women's basketball team picked up a 78-69 victory over the Smith College Pioneers on Monday evening at Cousens Gymnasium.
Erin Poindexter McHan and Callie O'Brien also had double-digit points for the Jumbos in the win. Poindexter McHan finished with 14 points and O'Brien had 11 points with six assists and four rebounds. Along with her 17 points, Rosa (pictured) grabbed 13 rebounds and four assists for the double-double.
Both teams started the game hot, trading baskets and keeping the game tight throughout the first quarter. Smith's Jessie Ruffner got the game started with a jumper that was quickly answered by an Angela Alibrandi layup for the Jumbos. The teams would continue to go back and forth until Tufts went on a 6-0 run on two consecutive three-pointers from Annika Decker and Poindexter McHan to take a 10-6 lead. This was followed by three-pointers for each team as Amelia Clairmont sunk one that was followed by another by Decker to keep the four-point lead for Tufts. Neither team managed to get any runs going for the remainder of the quarter, and the game went into the second quarter with a 22-20 score in favor of Tufts.
Smith found success in the second quarter, outscoring the Jumbos 23-15 with junior Morgan Morrison and Katelyn Pickunka combining for more than half of the team's second quarter points, each scoring six. Pickunka's six points came consecutively on two layups and a mid-range jumper just over two minutes into the quarter to give Smith a 30-26 lead. After Tufts broke up the Smith run with an Alibrandi layup and Poindexter McHan free throw, the Pioneers would separate themselves again, going on a 13-8 run kick-started by a Dashelle Gleissner three-pointer. The Pioneers headed into the locker room with a 43-37 lead.
The third quarter is when the Jumbos started to come alive, outscoring the Pioneers 23-18 and starting the quarter on a 15-6 run. Rosa scored eight points during the run, including two consecutive layups. The teams would trade baskets for the remaining five minutes of the quarter and by the end of the third, Smith was clinging to a 61-60 lead.
The Jumbos regained the lead immediately in the fourth quarter on another Rosa layup and would not look back, outscoring the Pioneers 18-8 in the fourth quarter, including another Decker three-pointer that started a 7-1 run to close out the game with the 78-69 victory.
After not scoring in the first quarter, Rosa scored five points in the second quarter and six points in each of the final two quarters to tie for the team-lead of 17 points with Russell. Morrison was Smith's leading scorer, finishing with 16 points and four rebounds, shooting 7 for 10 from the field. Rosa shot 7 for 9 from the field while Russell shot 5 for 10 and 2 for 4 from beyond the arc.
The win gives Tufts their 16th on the year, improving their record to 16-2. They have a NESCAC record of 5-1 as they head into four consecutive conference games to finish off the regular-season.
Next, the Jumbos will travel to Trinity College for a NESCAC matchup on Friday.
Written by Tim O'Brien, Athletic Communications Intern
