Box Score
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Emma Roberson played a key role during Tufts' game-turning stretch
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MEDFORD - Senior Liz Moynihan scored 17 points, including a huge three-pointer in the second half, as the seventh-ranked Tufts University women's basketball team defeated #3 Amherst, 63-56, in a battle of NESCAC unbeatens on Friday night at Cousens Gym.
The Jumbos, who received a game-high 18 points from junior Hayley Kanner, improved to 13-0 overall and 2-0 in the league. It was Tufts' first victory against the Lord Jeffs since January 12, 2007 when the Jumbos took a 58-53 final over Amherst.
The Lord Jeffs, who lost leading scorer Megan Robertson to a knee injury early in the game, dropped to 14-1 and 2-1. Amherst, four-time defending league champions, had won 10 straight games against the Jumbos.
The teams were tied at 52-52 following a pair of free throws by Amherst's Haley Zwecker at 4:38 of the second half. Jumbo Emma Roberson had a free throw at the other end, and then after a Lord Jeff turnover Moynihan drained a three putting Tufts up 56-52 with 3:44 remaining.
That was part of an 8-1 run that gave the Jumbos a 60-53 lead into the final minute. All eight points were scored by Moynihan and Roberson, including five at the free throw line.
A three by Hannah Peterson had the Lord Jeffs within 60-56 with 27 seconds left, but the Jumbos would make free throws and keep Amherst off the scoreboard the rest of the way to post the win.
In the first half, the Lord Jeffs were deflated by the injury to Robertson before coming back. Tufts held them scoreless for well over five minutes and took a 18-8 lead with a 14-0 run. Moynihan and Michela North scored four points each for the Jumbos during that stretch.
Down 21-9, Amherst closed the half with a 16-4 run that made it a 25-25 tie heading into intermission. Marley Giddins spearheaded the comeback with eight points while Ali Doswell had five.
Amherst led by four three times early in the second half, including 41-37 on a layup by Savannah Holness at 10:55. However, five points by Moynihan spurred a 7-0 Jumbo spurt that put them up 44-41 at the 8:48 mark. The Lord Jeffs would surge back ahead at 50-49 on another Holness layup at 5:46, but Tufts would hold them to just six more points to earn the win.
Moynihan had 13 of her 17 points in the second half for Tufts. She had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in a career performance. Kanner added four blocks to her 18 points, while junior Hannah Foley contributed eight points, three assists and three steals. The Jumbos held Amherst to 34 percent (17/50) from the field and forced them into 17 turnovers.
Giddins led the Lord Jeffs with 13 points along with six rebounds. Zwecker tallied 11 points and four assists, while Holness was near a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. Doswell added eight points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Both teams play again tomrorow. Tufts hosts Trinity at 2 and Amherst travels to Bates for a 2 pm start.
Game Photos by Kelvin Ma / Tufts
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