Box Score MEDFORD - Much like the first meeting between the 25-1 Jumbos and the 20-6 Ephs, a tightly contested match unfolded at Cousens in the semifinal round of the NESCAC Tournament, but also like the first meeting, Tufts finished on top 53-40. The Jumbos advance to a second consecutive NESCAC Tournament final. Hayley Kanner completed a well-rounded game finishing with 20 points and five blocks, while Ellen Cook led the way for Williams with 18 points.
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| Emma Roberson grabbed nine boards, including six offensive, for the Jumbos |
The contest got off to a hot start that featured an even flow early on. An acrobatic layup by Williams freshman guard Amanni Fernandez put the Ephs up 4-2 early, but Hannah Foley hit two silky smooth jump shots over the next two minutes that aided a Jumbo six-point run.
Just five points were scored over the next five-plus minutes, all by Williams, including three from Ephs leading scorer Cook. Both sides continued to struggle to find the bottom of the net as Williams missed two fastbreak opportunities and Tufts failed to convert two layups over the next four minutes. Kanner was the only Jumbo to produce as she scored Tufts' next six points.
Sophomore guard Devon Caveney got going offensively for the Ephs tallying eight points in under two minutes, including an old-fashioned three-point play as well as a corner three, which knotted the score at 16 with 6:35 to play in the half.
Tufts would regain the lead with some strong inside buckets, but Williams responded again with a nice move by senior forward Kellie McDonald and another Caveney layup. But just before the buzzer, Michela North put home a layup to give Tufts a 26-22 edge at the break.
Kanner recorded ten points, three boards, two steals, and two big rejections in the half, while Caveney headed up the Ephs charge with ten points and six rebounds of her own.
The Bos dominated the opening minutes of the second half. A massive block from North led to a Tufts possession that ended in the hands of Kanner at the top of the key who swished a three. A similar result befell the Ephs on the next Jumbos possession as this time Josie Lee knocked down the deep ball to cap an eight-point Tufts swing that gave the Jumbos their first double-digit lead of the afternoon with 16:59 remaining.
Cook countered aggressively and created some instant offense for herself, single-handedly bringing Williams back to within one. She hit two three-pointers during the 11-0 Ephs streak. Michelle Wu checked in for the Jumbos and hit her first shot, a long two, to break the Jumbo drought.
Kanner drained an elbow jumper next time down the floor, but Cook answered with a no-hesitation trey from the top, her third of the half. Buckets continued to fall, but just when Williams approached to within two, the Jumbos took off on a six-point run that included a Kanner three the hard way and a second Lee long ball to push the lead back to eight with 6:53 left.
With just over three minutes to go, the Ephs committed three fouls in one possession sending them over the limit, and the Jumbos to the line for the rest of the game, in the process. Tufts converted seven of their nine trips to the foul line down the stretch, six of which came off of Kelsey Morehead's fingertips, to ice the victory. Williams was stone cold from the charity stripe, canning just four of twelve for 33% shooting.
While the Ephs had slight advantages in turnovers and steals, the Jumbos decisively won the assists, blocks, and rebounds categories. Kanner swatted five, while North batted away four, and Maura Folliard registered one, while Williams recorded four total. The Jumbos also dished out 11 helpers, with Lauren Dillon handing out 4, compared to Williams' 5 total. North collected a monster 16 boards for Tufts which hauled down 52 boards to Williams' 39.
Cook finished the game with a strong 18 points, 15 of which went down in the second half. Caveney did not score in the second frame, but ended the afternoon with ten points and six rebounds, while junior forward Katie Litman finished with seven points and eight boards.
Tufts will play the winner of the second semifinal game between second-seeded Bowdoin and third-seeded Amherst which is currently taking place at Cousens. The NESCAC championship is slotted for a noon tip-off tomorrow at Cousens.
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