MEDFORD, MA (November 15, 2022) -- The Tufts University women's basketball team held visiting Roger Williams University to just 37.1 percent shooting Tuesday, including 0-of-10 from three-point land as the Jumbos moved to 2-0 on the season with a 57-48 win in non-conference play from Cousens Gymnasium.
The Jumbos needed to rely on their stifling defense, especially in the second half when the Jumbos shot just 6-of-24 (25 percent) in the closing periods. Tufts trailed 4-2 early in the first quarter after a layup by RWU's Caroline Elie, but
Hannah Kelly came right back with a triple from the wing to put the Jumbos back on top with 6:35 to go in the first frame. The Jumbos wouldn't trail again, pushing its lead up to as much as eight at the end of the first quarter on a pair of freebies by
Mallory Folliard.
In the second quarter, Sophie Araneo scored in transition to pull the Hawks to within four at 24-20, but the Jumbos finished the half on a 13-2 run capped by a driving layup by Folliard with less than 10 seconds to play in the stanza. Tufts shot a game-high 50 percent in the second frame, going 8-of-16 from the field to lead by 15 at the break.
After the break, both teams would go cold though from the floor though Tufts grabbed the game's largest lead of 16 points just 1:30 into the half on a triple from
Callie O'Brien off a nice feed from
Annika Decker. RWU (1-1) got its deficit down under 10 once in the third quarter on a Elie free throw, but the Jumbos allowed just five field goals in the period to hold off the Hawks from getting closer.
In the fourth quarter, the lead would hover around 10 points for the majority of the period as the Jumbos forced the Hawks into six turnovers in the period to hold on the for the victory.
First-year
Sarah Crossett had another strong game after pouring in 16 in her debut against Bates Saturday, as she posted team-highs of 15 points and seven rebounds, going 6-of-11 from the floor.
Sofia Gonzalez came off the bench to post a new career-high in points, as she was 5-of-10 from the floor while connecting on two of her six triples en route to 12 points.
Maggie Russell was in foul trouble most of the game, but still managed eight points, four assists and seven rebounds, and Decker tallied six assists and four steals.
O'Brien and Kelly both chalked up five points, and
Mikayla Paquette was 2-of-4 for five points while pulling down two boards. The difference was the bench scoring, as Tufts got 21 points from its reserves while Roger Williams chalked up just four points. Tufts led for 38:14 of the game, while forcing the Hawks into 22 miscues on the night.
Elie tallied a game-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting for RWU, while Araneo finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Jumbos will head to Worcester, MA on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., battling WPI in non-conference action from Harrington Auditorium.
--JUMBOS--
