Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN - For the second straight day, the fifth-ranked Tufts women's basketball team was able to pull out a close game as the Jumbos won 54-50 at #25 Williams College in NESCAC action on Saturday afternoon.
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| Emma Roberson finished with eight points, six rebounds and four steals |
The Jumbos, who had to go to overtime to win at Hamilton College on Friday night, trailed by seven (23-16) at halftime today. After surging to a 10-point lead in the second half, the Jumbos saw it disappear before clutch free throw shooting down the stretch earned them the victory.
Williams had a 48-47 lead with 1:50 remaining in regulation after a lay-up by Kellie Macdonald. Tufts would score the next seven points on free throws to lead 54-48. Four at the line by senior tri-captain Hannah Foley, a pair by sophomore Michela North and one by senior tri-captain Hayley Kanner got the job done.
During that stretch, first-year point guard Lauren Dillon came up with a key defensive rebound and Foley grabbed an offensive rebound. Both led to Tufts foul shots. Williams also had a late turnover.
The Ephs had held Tufts to just five for 25 shooting (20 percent) and forced nine turnovers while taking the first-half lead. Macdonald had 11 points in the first 20 minutes for the hosts.
The second half featured tremendous back-and-forth action. The Jumbos opened the half by scoring the first nine points, five by North, to take a 25-23 lead. Five straight points by Dillon opened up a 34-26 Tufts advantage with 11:52 on the clock.
Williams' Ellen Cook would score the next six points bringing the Ephs within 34-32 on her three-pointer at the 11-minute mark. The Jumbos followed up by advancing to their 10-point lead scoring eight in a row including a three by Foley making it 42-32 with nine minutes remaining in regulation.
Over the next seven minutes, Williams would out-score Tufts 16-5 to take the 48-47 lead. Cook had a pair of three-pointers and seven points total to lead the charge. The Jumbos would go on to win it at the line though.
Tuft (21-1, 8-0 NESCAC) was led by North's 16 points and 11 rebounds while Foley finished with 13 points and nine boards. Junior Emma Roberson added eight points, six rebounds and four steals. Tufts out-scored Williams 14-6 at the line in the second half and took advantage of 11 Eph turnovers in the second.
Cook and Macdonald both had 15 points for Williams, which dropped to 17-5 overall and 5-3 in the league. Katie Litman coralled a game-high 15 rebounds for the hosts.
Tufts finishes its regular season with a pair of NESCAC home games next weekend, starting with Colby Friday night. Williams is at Connecticut College Friday night to begin their regular-season ending weekend.
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