Box Score MEDFORD – Senior Erica DeCandido scored 27 points and collected ten rebounds and three assists, but it wasn't enough as the top-seeded Tufts women's basketball team fell to third-seeded Bowdoin in the NESCAC Championship in Cousens Gym on Sunday afternoon. Bowdoin used a strong fourth quarter after the game was tied at 52 just after the start of quarter to pick up a 70-60 win.
The Polar Bear (25-2) win avenged a 97-88 loss to the Jumbos earlier in the season. The loss was the first of the season for the Jumbos (26-1) and snapped a program-record 26 game winning streak. Bowdoin receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament while the Jumbos will also get bid to the tournament. The NCAA Division III women's basketball bracket will be announced in a selection show on Monday at 2:30 pm.
The Polar Bears came out on fire and score the game's first nine points. Maddie Hasson opened scoring up with a couple of layups and then Sela Kay sunk a three. Samantha Roy made a layup that put the Polar Bears up nine just over two minutes into play. After a Jumbo layup from senior Erica DeCandido, the Polar Bears got a layup from Dorian Cohen and then a jumper from Roy put them ahead 11, four minutes into play.
The Jumbos chipped away at that lead, starting with a couple of jumpers from DeCandido to cut the Bowdoin lead to seven. But, Kay answered with one from downtown to push the visitors lead back to double-digits. Trailing ten, 16-6, with 4:42 left in the quarter the Jumbos outscored the Polar Bears 13-3 to end the first quarter tied at 19. Sophomore Sofia Rosa started the streak with a jumper and then DeCandido added a layup. Another jumper from Rosa was followed by one free throw from sophomore Molly Ryan and two from senior Sadie Otley. After another three from Kay increased the Polar Bear lead to four, DeCandido made a layup and then a jumper to tie things at 19 to end the first.
The Polar Bears once again grew a lead to start the second. Cohen started scoring with a layup and then Hasson added a layup of her own. A free throw from Hasson put the Polar Bears up five about two minutes into the second quarter. After a layup from DeCandido the Polar Bears got a three from Roy and then a layup from Hasson to push their lead to eight, 29-21, with 6:22 to go till the half. The Jumbos cut that lead to as little as five, but the Polar Bears had a 40-32 advantage at the break.
Out of the half the Jumbos shrunk the visitors lead to four thanks to layups from Otley and DeCandido. But the Polar Bears answered with a layup and then a three from Hasson to push their lead to nine again. Once again the Jumbos were able to work on that lead. Rosa cut it to seven with a jumper and then a Brigg's layup brought the Jumbos within five. Trailing by eight with a minute left in the third the Jumbos go a layup and the free throw after from DeCandido to come within give, 51-46. Another layup and free throw after from DeCandido on the Jumbos next possession cut the visitors lead to just two, 51-49, with 17 seconds left in the quarter. A free throw from Hasson increased that lead to three, 52-49, at the end of the third.
Otley opened up the fourth quarter with a three to tie things at 52. But, the Polar Bears got a layup from Hasson and then another from Roy put them ahead four, 56-52, two minutes into the quarter. Senior Cailin Harrington brought the Jumbos within two with a jumper, but the Polar Bears got a layup from Cohen and then a couple of free throws from Annie Maher increased that lead to six. The Jumbos were able to cut that lead to four, but that was as close as they were able to get and Bowdoin picked up the 70-60 win.
DeCandido finished with a game-high 27 points along with ten rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks. Rosa turned in nine points and four rebounds along with three assists off the bench for the Jumbos. Ryan added eight points, three assists and a couple of rebounds and steals. Otley tallied seven points and turned in three assists
Hasson was the offensive leader for the Polar Bears, finishing with 24 points and ten rebounds. Kay turned in 18 points and seven rebounds. Roy added nine points, three rebounds and four assists. Maher finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
Both teams will find out where they play next when the NCAA Division III bracket is announced on Monday.
