MEDFORD, MA (February 10, 2023) -- The Tufts University women's basketball team won its fifth straight and sixth consecutive New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) contest Friday night, as three players scored in double figures in a 72-60 win over visiting Wesleyan University in action from Cousens Gymnasium.
The Jumbos (17-6, 8-1 NESCAC) claimed at least a share of the regular season conference title with the win, as Trinity (CT) College lost on the road at Bates College. Tufts and Trinity will meet in Cousens Gymnasium on Saturday, with the Jumbos playing for the right to host through the NESCAC Tournament with a victory.
Tufts and Wesleyan were neck and neck through the opening five minutes of the game, as a Brooke Guiffre three-pointer with 5:20 to go in the first period made the score 8-7 in favor of the Jumbos. Junior
Annika Decker answered right back with a three, sparking a 7-0 run that ended with Tufts taking a 15-9 lead into the second quarter.
In the second frame, Tufts slowly built its lead up to as many as 14 points on a lay-up by
Sofia Gonzalez with 3:01 to go in the period. Tufts continued to lead by 14 with a minute remaining, but Wesleyan scored four quick points before the halftime buzzer to make it 35-25 heading to the intermission.
After the break, the Jumbo advantage hovered around 12 points until a 10-2 run through the middle of the quarter pushed the edge up to 19 points at 52-33 following a three-point play by senior
Joelle Zelony. In the fourth, another and-one for Zelony would stretch Tufts' lead up to a game-high of 20 points, cruising to the NESCAC win.
The Jumbos displayed a balanced attack on Friday, led by the 17 points from Gonzalez. The sophomore was 2-of-6 from downtown and 5-of-6 from the line, going 5-of-13 overall on the night. Junior
Maggie Russell contributed her 10th double-double of the campaign, chalking up 14 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six assists. Sophomore
Caitlyn O'Boyle was one rebound shy of her second career double-double with 14 points and nine boards, going 5-of-8 from the floor.
Decker added eight points, knocking down two of her four shots from behind the three-point line, and Zelony finished with six points and three caroms. Tufts shot 41.3 percent (26-63) from the floor on Friday night, while holding a commanding 25-8 edge in second-chance points. Tufts also finished with a 20-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
Alana Jones scored a game-high 19 points for the Cardinals (10-13, 3-6 NESCAC), adding six boards, three assists and three steals. Abby Gray also poured in 11 points for Wesleyan, which finished 20-for-49 from the field (40.8 percent) on the night.
Tufts will honor its lone senior,
Joelle Zelony, Saturday in the regular season finale in Cousens Gymnasium at 3 p.m. against Trinity. The Jumbos will also welcome its alumni to town for Alumni Weekend.
--JUMBOS--
