Box Score MEDFORD – The No. 1 Tufts women's basketball team used a strong second half and a solid defensive effort to hold off eighth-seeded Wesleyan in NESCAC Quarterfinal action in Cousens Gym on Saturday afternoon. The Jumbos were the top seed in the tournament, and advance to semifinal play which will be in Cousens Gym next weekend.
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| Sadie Otley helped the Jumbos with ten points on Saturday |
Tufts improves to 25-0 overall and advances to next weekend's semifinals. Wesleyan sees their season come to a close with a 14-11 overall record.
The first two quarters were incredibly close and the Jumbos took just a 26-22 advantage into halftime. The Jumbos grew their lead to as many as 11 in the third quarter and were ahead by seven at the end of three, 42-35. They pushed that lead to 12 in the fourth on their way to a 58-48 win.
The Cardinals opened up scoring with a layup from Marina Petruzzi, but senior Erica DeCandido tied things at two with a layup of her own two minutes into play. Junior Emily Briggs put the Jumbos ahead with a couple points, and then Petruzzi tied things at four and put the Cardinals on top again with a layup and the free throw after. Senior Sadie Otley put the Jumbos ahead again with a three, and after a Cardinal turnover DeCandido made it 9-5 with a jumper with just over six to go in the first quarter.
After a Cardinal jumper, the Jumbos got a free throw from DeCandido and then a layup from sophomore Sofia Rosa put the Jumbos ahead 12-7 with just over three minutes to go. Otley added a layup to put the Jumbos ahead seven. Emma Roush drained a three with 1:22 left in the first to cut the lead to four, and then Maddie Clark made a jumper with two seconds left in the quarter to bring the Cardinals within two, 14-12, at the end of one.
The Cardinals came within one at the beginning of the second quarter thanks to a three from Clark. The first half of the second quarter was close. Ahead 22-20 the Jumbos got a layup from DeCandido and then a couple of free throws from Briggs to push their lead to six, 26-20, with less than a minute to go. A couple off free throws from Ava Tompkins for the Cardinals closed out scoring in the second quarter and the Jumbos were ahead, 26-22, at the break.
The Jumbos scored the first seven points of the third quarter thanks to a jumper and a layup from DeCandido and a three from sophomore Molly Ryan. That put them ahead 33-22 about three minutes into the third quarter. The Cardinals responded with a three from Roush, and then a free throw from Tompkins and a jumper from Clark cut the lead to five, 33-28, about halfway through the third quarter. The Jumbos held on to that lead, and were ahead 42-35 at the end of three.
Fourth quarter play started with a layup from DeCandido and then one from downtown from Ryan put the Jumbos ahead 12 early in the fourth. Down 49-37 about a minute later the Cardinals cut the Jumbos lead thanks to five points from Clark and then a layup from Caleigh Ryan. But, the Jumbos responded with a layup from Ryan and then a couple of free throws from DeCandido put the Jumbos up seven, 53-44. They hung on for the 58-48 win.
DeCandido led the Jumbos with 19 points, 12 rebounds and a couple of assists, blocks and steals. Ryan added 13 points and three rebounds and Otley finished with ten points, three rebounds and three assists. Rosa added eight points and five rebounds off the bench for the Jumbos.
Clark was the offensive leader for the Cardinals with 16 points. Petruzzi finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Tompkins helped with six points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Ryan added six points, three rebounds and a couple of blocks. Roush turned in six points.
The Jumbos are back in action on Saturday when they host NESCAC semifinal play. They will take on Williams on Saturday in the second game of semifinal action in Cousens Gym. Amherst and Bowdoin will face off on in Saturday's first game. Times will be announced this week.
