Box Score MEDFORD, Mass. – The No. 1 Tufts University women's basketball team opened up their season with a 78-49 win at home over Roger Williams University Friday night. The Jumbos (1-0) outscored the Hawks (1-1) in all four quarters on their way to a 29-point victory.
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| Jac Knapp led all scorers in the first game of the season with 15. |
Eleven different Jumbos scored in the contest with junior Jac Knapp leading all scorers with 15 points in 33 minutes of play. She also had five rebounds, two steals, and one assist on the game. Senior captain Lauren Dillon had 12 points, five rebounds, four steals, and an assist and Melissa Baptista added 12 points of her own. Sadie Otley chipped in with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting and hit two 3-pointers in the second quarter where she had eight of her ten points.
Five of Dillon's points came on back-to-back possessions for the Jumbos in the third quarter. First, she hit a 3-pointer and then after a steal by teammate Jennie Mucciarone on the other end, Dillon came back and was fouled on a drive, resulting in two successful free throws.
The game started a bit slow, with Roger Williams taking a 7-2 lead after four minutes of play. Tufts followed that up with a 9-0 run to take the lead off of buckets from Erica DeCandido, Baptista, and free throws from Mucciarone.
The first half wrapped up with the Jumbos holding a 40-29 lead. They outscored the Hawks by six in the first quarter and five in the second. Otley led all scorers with 10, while Mucciarone and three separate Hawks had eight.
Tufts opened the third quarter on a 17-5 run to cushion their lead. Dillon had seven in the quarter, Knapp had six, and Baptista had four.
The fourth quarter completely belonged to the Jumbos. They matched their 21 from the first quarter, but this time limited the Hawks to just eight. In one of the plays of the game, with four minutes remaining Baptista secured a defensive rebound and then quickly took the ball the length of the floor for a tough layup that she made look easy.
Gabby Jerahian led Roger Williams with 13 points, while Mariah Nicholas had 12. Tufts outrebounded the Hawks 36-32 and forced 26 turnovers while grabbing 16 steals.
The Jumbos play again tomorrow when this season-opening Tufts University Tip-Off Tournament continues at 3 p.m. against Regis. Roger Williams will face MIT in the first game of the day at 1 p.m.
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Written by Curtis Stoychoff, Athletic Communications Intern
