Box Score MEDFORD – Three different players scored in double-digits including 21 points and 12 rebounds from senior Erica DeCandido and the top-seeded Tufts women's basketball team knocked off fourth-seeded Williams, 69-63, on Saturday afternoon in Cousens Gym.
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| Molly Ryan finished with a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds |
With the win the Jumbos improve to 26-0 this season and advance to the NESCAC Final on Sunday at noon against the winner of the Bowdoin Amherst semifinal. Williams finishes the season with an 18-8 record.
Williams jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter thanks to a layup from Maddy Mandyck and a couple of free throws from Katie Brule. Ahead by three, 7-4, about halfway through the first quarter the Ephs got a layup from Maggie Meehan and then a layup from Mikaela Topper put the Ephs ahead seven, 11-4, with 3:30 left in the quarter. A couple of layups from junior Emily Briggs brought the Jumbos within three with just over two minutes left, and then a layup from sophomore Sofia Rosa cut the Eph lead to one, 11-10, with just over a minute to go. Topper turned in a layup for the Ephs, but the quarter ended with a Briggs jumper that brought the Jumbos within one, 13-12, at the end of one.
A layup from DeCandido opened the second quarter and put the Jumbos ahead, 14-13. About two minutes later sophomore Molly Ryan turned in one from downtown to push that lead to four. Meehan answered with a three of her own for the Ephs, but then DeCandido turned in a layup. The two teams would trade baskets for the next few minutes. Ahead 21-20 with just under three minutes to go in the quarter the Jumbos got a three from Ryan to put them ahead four. DeCandido followed that with a layup to increase the Jumbo lead to six with just under two minutes to go until the break. Topper made a layup with 12 seconds left to cut that lead to four and the Jumbos were ahead 30-26 at halftime.
The Jumbos outscored the Ephs 22-16 in the third to grow their lead. Williams started the quarter with a three from Emily Chang which cut the Jumbo lead to just one. But, senior Sadie Otley answered with a layup and then DeCandido added a couple of points. A three from Ryan put the Jumbos ahead eight, 37-29, about four minutes into the third. Ahead five, 43-38, with three minutes left in the quarter the Jumbos got a layup from senior Cailin Harrington. Then Ryan and DeCandido each made layups and DeCnadido made the free throw after to put the Jumbos ahead 12, 50-38, with just over two minutes left in the quarter. Tufts was ahead 52-42 at the end of three.
The Ephs managed to get back into it a bit in the fourth. Down by nine with 5:47 to go Meehan made a couple of free throws to cut the lead to seven, and then a three from Gabby Martin brought the Ephs within four, 57-53. That's as close as the Ephs would get. The Jumbos picked up the 69-63 win.
DeCandido finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Rosa added 15 points, three rebounds and three assists. Ryan finished with 13 points, ten rebounds and three assists. Otley tallied seven points, while Briggs finished with six points and three rebounds.
Meehan finished with 18 points and a couple of boards for the Ephs. Chang added 15 points and Martin tallied seven points and three rebounds. Mandyck turned in six points and seven rebounds, along with three assists and three blocks.
The Jumbos will be back in action on Sunday when they play for the conference title at 12 pm.
