MEDFORD, MA (November 27, 2022) -- The No. 11 Tufts University women's basketball team outscored visiting University of New England 17-3 in the fourth quarter, pulling away for a tough, come-from-behind 69-55 win in non-conference action Sunday from Cousens Gymnasium.
With the win, the Jumbos moved to 5-0 on the campaign which marked the fourth time in the last five seasons that Tufts have started the season 5-0. Sunday's game though was nip-and-tuck the entire way, as the Nor'Easters led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter after a Kaylee Beyor layup with 1:18 to go in the period.
Maggie Russell hit a lay-up, followed by a triple by
Sofia Gonzalez for Tufts to make it a 25-20 UNE lead at the break.
In the second quarter, UNE (4-3) pushed its lead back up to 12 points after another bucker by Beyor and led the rest of the half though Tufts finished the stanza on a 10-2 run to trail only by two at 37-35 going into the locker room.
The two teams would exchange points early on in the third quarter before Tufts tied the game at 44 on a three-pointer by Gonzalez with 6:07 to go in the period. The score would be tied three more times in the quarter, including at the end after Russell converted a three-point play to make it 52-52 going to the fourth period.
In the final quarter, Tufts would take control thanks to its defensive intensity as it held UNE to just one field goal in the period while the Nor'Easters shot 6.7 percent (1-15) from the floor in the stanza. The defense allowed Tufts to get out in transition, as it outscored the Nor'Easters 11-2 on fast break points in pulling away for the victory.
Gonzalez was great off the bench for the Jumbos, as she poured in a career-high 18 points while hitting a career-high six three-pointers. The Glendale, California native broke her previous career-high of 12 points, set earlier this season in a win over Roger Williams.
Russell continued to pour in the points for Tufts on Sunday, posting a game-high 24 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists and a career-high four steals.
Sarah Crossett totaled six points, adding 10 rebounds for her second straight double-digit rebound performance.
Annika Decker played all 40 minutes, logging nine points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals, while
Callie O'Brien registered a season-high 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting. O'Brien also tallied five assists, as the Jumbos finished with 19 assists on 27 made field goals. The Jumbos made 12-of-29 from behind the three-point line (41.4 percent).
UNE was paced by Beyor's 16 points and seven rebounds, with Keagan Dunbar also scoring 12 points to go with seven rebounds. Jordyn Franzen tallied eight points and 11 rebounds, while Juliana Tracey finished with nine points as well.
The Jumbos will have five days of practice to prepare for a trip to the Peach State, taking on Emory University Saturday, December 3 in Atlanta at 1 p.m. before battling Piedmont University Sunday at 1 p.m. in Demorest, GA.
--JUMBOS--
