Box Score
MEDFORD – The Tufts women's basketball team clinched the #1 seed in the upcoming NESCAC Championship tournament with a 54-33 victory over Colby College on Friday night at Cousens Gym.
Head coach Carla Berube's Jumbos (22-1) will be the #1 seed for the second straight season. Last year they won a tie-breaker to earn the spot. This year they do it with a 9-0 NESCAC record heading into the conference finale tomorrow afternoon at home against Bowdoin, who they will play for a perfect conference mark.
Tufts pulled away from a pesky Colby squad tonight, out-scoring the Mules 32-13 in the second half. First-year Michela North led Tufts with 15 points, making 6 of 9 shots and adding three free throws. She was one of five Jumbos to grab six rebounds. Junior Hayley Kanner finished with 14 points to go with six rebounds and three blocks.
Colby, which had a one-point lead early in the second half, dropped to 7-16 overall and 1-8 in the league. The visitors were led by 10 points from Gabe Donahue, who made 4 of 5 shots and also had five rebounds. Mia Diplock added seven points with three assists, while Desi Smith recorded five points and eight rebounds.
After a slow start by both teams that saw just six total points covering most of the opening six minutes, Tufts took a 14-8 advantage with a 7-1 spurt. North had five points to key the run.
However, Colby prevented the Jumbos from pulling away as Diplock canned a three-pointer at the eight-minute mark making it 14-11 Tufts. The Jumbos would move out to a 20-13 advantage after a pair of free throws by senior Caitlin McClure, but again the Mules answered with a three by Kate Parsons keeping it close.
The Jumbos would not score in the final four minutes of the half. Colby had four free throws by Smith during that time and it was 22-20 Jumbos at intermission. Both teams shot under 30 percent in the opening half and combined for 17 turnovers. The Mules did make three three-pointers and went 7 for 7 from the foul line. Tufts had nine second-chance points off 10 offensive rebounds.
Kanner led Tufts with six points and two blocks in the opening 20. North recorded five points, three rebounds and two steals. Donahue had six points and three rebounds for Colby. Smith checked in with five points and five rebounds.
A three-pointer by Carylanne Wolfington at 17:32 of the second half had Colby up 23-22. A pair of free throws by Jumbo Kelsey Morehead gave them the lead for good at 24-23, but the Mules hung around and were within five (30-25) following Diplock's jumper at the 12-minute mark.
That's when Tufts pulled away. Over the next eight minutes, the hosts out-scored Colby 18-4 to lead 48-29 with 4:24 remaining in the second half. Kanner led the surge with eight points. Tufts would not look back while going on to the 21-point win. They would hold the Mules to just six points in the final 10:46 of regulation.
Colby's 33 points tied for the fewest the Jumbos have allowed this season. Tufts held the Mules to 25-percent shooting overall (10/40) and forced 20 Colby turnovers. The Mules did go 9 for 9 from the free throw line.
The Mules, who will not qualify for the conference tournament, finish their season at Bates tomorrow in a 2 pm start.
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