Box Score 
MEDFORD - In the quarterfinals of the 2022 NESCAC Playoffs, the Tufts University women's basketball team (No. 2 seed) defeated the Wesleyan University Cardinals (No. 7 seed) at Cousens Gym, 58-55, on Sunday.
The Jumbos will now face off against No. 3 seeded Amherst College at Trinity College in the NESCAC Semifinals next Saturday at 4:30 PM. The winner of that game will go on to face the winner of No. 5 Bates and No. 1 Trinity in the NESCAC Championship Game next Sunday at 12:00 PM.
Today's game began with both teams shooting well from the floor, but the latter three quarters were defined by effective defense on both sides of the floor. Neither team led by more than six points throughout the game, but the Jumbos held on to punch their ticket to the NESCAC Semifinals.
The Jumbos were led in scoring by forward Maggie Russell, who turned in a 22-point, 5-rebound, and 2-assist performance. Forward Sofia Rosa posted a double-double, scoring 10 points and wrangling 12 rebounds. Guard Molly Ryan was crucial down the stretch for the Jumbos, collecting 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Jumbos out-rebounded the Cardinals 41-37, including 18 rebounds on offense.
Tufts won the opening tip, and began the game with a quick three-pointer by guard Callie O'Brien. Wesleyan came back with a seven-point run of their own, but a deep three from Russell ended the Cardinal run. Both teams shot well from beyond the arc in the early minutes of the first period, with effective paint defense forcing outside shots. The Jumbos trailed Wesleyan for the first several minutes of the quarter, but finally went ahead with a smooth three-pointer by guard Annika Decker (pictured) and a strong downhill drive through three defenders by Russell for a layup. Scoring slowed somewhat in the last minute of the quarter, as defense beyond the arc began to solidify. Wesleyan finally responded with a long three-pointer from guard Caleigh Ryan to cut the Jumbo lead to two, but a foul with a half-second left and a free throw made by Ryan gave Tufts a three-point lead going into the second period, 21-18.
The Jumbos began the second period with a mid-range jumper by Russell, but Wesleyan's Caleigh Ryan knocked down two consecutive three-pointers to give the Cardinals back the lead. An and-1 layup by Rosa briefly gave the Jumbos back the lead, but the Cardinals made two free throws to tie the game. Ryan gave Tufts the lead with a three-point jumper, but Wesleyan's Maddie Clark tied it back up with a three of her own. After trading layups, Tufts finally got a stop, with stout defensive play forcing a Wesleyan three-second violation. Though the Jumbos failed to convert on a second-chance opportunity, they went into halftime up by two against the Cardinals (33-31).
In the third quarter, the Jumbos slowed the game down, focusing on finding the best shots and corralling offensive rebounds. Stout defensive play and efficient play brought the Jumbo lead to six, with neither team going on a sustained scoring run. The Cardinals responded with two three-pointers, but Tufts guard Erin Poindexter McHan hit a three-point jumper to bring the Jumbo lead back up to three. Tufts and Wesleyan traded buckets, with both teams forcing turnovers and playing effective zone defense on the other side of the floor. In the final possessions of the quarter, neither team was able to convert their opportunities, and the margin remained three points for Tufts (44-41).
In the game's final quarter, the Jumbos continued to rebound effectively on offense, but were unable to convert on early second-chance points. Wesleyan guard Brooke Guiffre brought the Jumbo lead down to one with a jump shot from mid-range, but Annika Decker responded with a layup for the hosts. The Jumbos began pushing into the paint more in the final period, given their shooting struggles in the second and third quarter. Clutch rebounding, crucial baskets, and defensive stops gave the Jumbos a little bit of breathing room as the clock began to wind down, but Wesleyan brought the Jumbo lead down to two with a deep three from Caleigh Ryan. Tufts' Ryan was fouled on the other side of the floor, and made two important free throws to bring the Jumbo lead to four with two minutes left in the game. Wesleyan's Marina Petruzzi fired off a deep three-pointer to bring the Jumbo lead down to one, and Tufts coach Jill Pace called a time-out with a little over a minute left in the period. Rosa drove into the lane when the Jumbos regained possession, drew a foul, and hit one of her free throws.
With a two-point lead and less than twenty seconds left in the game, Wesleyan began to play the foul game, and Decker knocked down one of her free throws to bring the Jumbo lead back to three. After a Wesleyan time-out, Clark dove to the basket for a layup to bring the Jumbo lead down to only one point with 10 seconds left. Tufts' Russell was fouled, and knocked down both of her free throws to give the Jumbos a three-point lead yet again. On their final possession, Wesleyan's Caleigh Ryan fired off a three-pointer at the buzzer, but it rimmed out of the basket, giving the Jumbos their first victory of the NESCAC Tournament.
Ryan led Wesleyan with 23 points, making five of nine threes.
Written by Max Chow-Gillette, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
