Box Score MEDFORD - In the first contest of the new year for both Tufts and visiting Regis College, the 10-1 Jumbos used a strong second half to defeat the 4-4 Pride by a final score of 57-44. It was Tufts' second win in a row after acquiring their first loss of the season to Scranton in Puerto Rico, while Regis has now dropped three straight. The Jumbos were led by the 6'2'' tandem of Hayley Kanner (15 points) and Michela North (14 points), while Regis senior guard Emilee Marro led all scorers with 16 points.
The Pride controlled the first half of play as the Jumbos struggled to find any offensive rhythm and were plagued by a slew of missed lay-ups down low. New England Collegiate Conference's 5th-best 3-point shooter Marro led the charge for Regis, scoring 15 of her 16 points in the first half, as the Pride rattled off an 11-2 run, which included two consecutive Marro 3-pointers, to take the lead early on.
Tufts would regain the momentum with an 11-0 stretch of their own, ignited by two consecutive Josie Lee buckets and a Hannah Foley 3-pointer. The Jumbos briefly took the lead 18-17 on an Emma Roberson lay-up, but the teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half and Marro would give Regis the 24-23 halftime lead after hitting her third three of the frame.
Due to a 25.8% shooting percentage, it was Tufts' second-lowest first half point total all season and only the second time they have trailed at the break. The Jumbos were forced to rely on their league-leading defense as they recorded five blocks and five steals to help them stay close in the first half.
After scoring just five points and three points respectively in the first half, North and Kanner made the necessary corrections to come alive in the second. They combined for the Jumbos' first 12 points in the half, all coming within the first six minutes. Kanner recorded eight of the twelve, while North chipped in four.
Behind a better shooting performance (44.4%) and continued hard-nosed defense, the Jumbos would push the lead to 12 halfway through the second frame and never relinquish it, despite the Pride's effort to cut the deficit to six at one point.
It was the first time all season three different players recorded double-doubles for the Jumbos as Kanner finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, North with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Foley with 11 points and 10 rebounds. North rounded out a solid stat line as she added four blocks and four steals, while Kanner added three rejections.
The Jumbos caused 14 of the Pride's 16 turnovers and swatted 10 shots, while holding Marro to just one point in the second half. Coming in to today's game, Regis had committed the fewest turnovers per game in the NECC and ranked at the top in steals and blocks per game, while Tufts owns the second-best steals per game and blocks per game marks in the NESCAC. All nine Jumbos who saw action recorded at least two points and all but one picked up a steal.
Regis senior guard Janaya Bradley finished the contest with nine points, three assists, and three boards.
Tufts was without starting point guard Kelsey Morehead.
The Jumbos return to the court on Monday, January 5th against a Babson team who handed the Jumbos their only regular season loss last year. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm at Babson.
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