Russell Helps Rally Women's Hoops Past WPI Friday

WORCESTER, MA (November 18, 2022) -- Junior forward Maggie Russell scored 21 of her game-high 25 points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter to help rally the Tufts University women's basketball team past host Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) 60-57 in action from Harrington Auditorium Friday evening. 

Russell and her teammates trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half following a lay-up by WPI's Alice Kelly with 5:46 to go in the third period. From that point, the Jumbos went on a 14-2 run over five minutes of the quarter to go into final quarter down four. 

The run continued into the fourth quarter for Tufts, as the Jumbos tied the game for the first time since 5-5 with a bucket from Russell with 8:07 to go in regulation. The Engineers would push their lead back up to five points at 57-52 with 3:37 to go on a three-pointer by Kelly, but Tufts rallied right back with six straight points to take the lead on a Hannah Kelly layup with less than a minute to play. 

WPI would get two chances on their next possession, but neither attempt would fall with Russell pulling down the rebound. Russell was fouled and hit both free throws to up Tufts lead to three at 60-57, and three three-point chances over the last 20 seconds for the Engineers would not fall as the Jumbos earned the win. 

Tufts (3-0) led by as much as six points in the first quarter at 15-9, taking a 15-12 lead into the second quarter. The Jumbos would shoot just 4-of-17 in the second quarter, as WPI outscored Tufts 17-9 to head into halftime up 29-24. 

Russell was 5-of-9 in the second half and 11-of-12 from the line for 21 points in the second half, finishing the contest with 25 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Annika Decker was the main offensive threat in the first half, as she posted eight of her 10 points in the first two stanzas. Decker added eight points and two steals as well for the contest. 

Mikayla Paquette came off the bench to score seven points in 7:17 of game action, making all five shots she took, while Kelly and Sarah Crossett each added six points. Samantha Sousa also posted five rebounds for Tufts, which was 22-of-59 (37.3 percent) from the floor on the night. 

Victoria Mirecki paced WPI with 12 points and seven rebounds, and Lisa Christiano posted 11 points as well for the Engineers (3-1). 

Tufts will have a quick turnaround, traveling to Brandeis University in Waltham, MA Saturday at 1 p.m. in more non-conference action.