Box Score MEDFORD, Mass. – The Tufts University women's basketball team overcame a 10-point second-half deficit Monday night to beat Babson College, 67-63.
|
| Baptista could not be stopped on a night where she picked up her sixth double-double of the season and a career-high 28 points. |
The Jumbos (19-2, 5-1 NESCAC) got a career-high 28 points from Melissa Baptista and she added 12 boards as well. The Beavers (13-7, 9-2 NECC) were led by Payton Ouimette with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
In a game in which Tufts trailed for almost 32 minutes, they showed their grit and determination in their comeback effort. Down eight with just under two minutes remaining in the third, Emily Briggs (six points, six rebounds) hit a jumper to bring Babson's lead to six. Baptista added two layups to get the score to 47-45 and after a turnover by the Beavers, Baptista would not be denied as she pivoted around a defender for her third bucket in 50 seconds to tie the game at 47. Babson's Katherine Tamulionis (six points, three assists) hit two free throws to end the quarter up two.
The teams traded buckets for much of the fourth quarter, resulting in multiple tie scores, but the Jumbos just were not able to pull ahead. That is, not until Jac Knapp (seven points, four steals, two assists) hit a three pointer with under two minutes remaining to give Tufts their first lead since there was 2:38 left in the second quarter.
On the next Babson possession, Tea Spellacy (nine points, four rebounds) was fouled and made both of her free throws to bring the Beavers back up by one, but the Jumbos answered right back. After an offensive rebound by Knapp, she found Cailin Harrington (six points) in the corner who sank a 3-pointer to give Tufts the 64-62 lead.
Out of a timeout, Knapp was at it again and stole the ball in front of the Babson bench. She was fouled hard and a technical was called. Lauren Dillon (nine points, four assists) made one of the technical foul shots to go up three and Babson was never able to regain the lead. After trading free throws, the final buzzer sounded as the Jumbos prevailed, 67-63.
Even when they were down 10 in the third quarter, Tufts never seemed to panic. They looked to their playmakers and these seasoned competitors answered the call. Baptista was on a mission, scoring 19 of her 28 points in the second half, and was responsible for 10 of the 13 points that brought the Jumbos from down 10, to down just two going into the final frame. While Knapp only had seven points, her shot to give the Jumbos their first lead in almost two quarters was one of the most important of the night.
Although the absolute biggest had to have been Harrington's three to seal the deal. It was possibly the most clutch moment of the season to date.
Babson started the game off hot, shooting 57.1% from the field in the first half. They took an 11-5 lead in the first quarter off of a three made by Spellacy. The Jumbos battled back in the first frame and when Baptista stole the ball at half-court with 1:30 remaining and took it on a breakaway for a layup, they would tie it up at 17.
After trailing for much of the second quarter, Knapp hit a three-pointer off of a feed from Sadie Otley (three points, one assist, one steal) to take the lead, 30-29. But the Beavers would end the quarter on a 6-0 run with buckets from Tamulionis, Vanessa Onwe (four opints, five rebounds), and Ouimette to go into the break with a 35-30 lead over the Jumbos.
Tufts will travel to the reigning national champions Amherst on Friday for a NESCAC heavyweight tilt. Babson is back at it on Wednesday against Wheaton.
#
Written by Curtis Stoychoff, Athletic Communications Intern
