Box Score 
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - The Tufts University women's basketball team outscored host Middlebury College 7-1 in the final two minutes of the game tonight to earn a 77-71 NESCAC win on the road.
The Jumbos are now 18-3 overall and 7-2 in the league heading into tomorrow's conference and regular-season finale at Williams. Middlebury (11-10, 5-4) also wraps up its regular season on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. home game against Bates.
Tonight's game was tied at 70-70 after Middlebury's Leah Poorman made a free throw with 2:17 remaining in the second half. Tufts would take a 72-70 lead on an offensive rebound and basket by Sofia Rosa with 1:56 on the clock. Both teams struggled offensively from there, and the Jumbos would end up closing out the win at the free throw line. Molly Ryan (pictured) was a clutch four for four at the line in the final 12 seconds.
Ryan paced Tufts with 20 points and chipped in with six rebounds, while Maggie Russell had a double-double of 18 points and a game-high 15 boards. Rosa also had a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Erin Poindexter McHan posted 12 points.
Trailing 5-2 in the opening stanza, host Middlebury put together a 12-0 run covering 3:01 of play for a 14-5 lead on a jumper from Alexa Mustafaj with 4:53 remaining. The Jumbos moved to within 17-13 on a three-point field goal by Ryan with 1:55 left. The Panthers outscored the visitors 7-2 over the remainder of the quarter, capped by a three from Bethany Lucey for a 24-15 lead.
The hosts maintained that advantage early in the second quarter, securing a 32-24 edge on a layup by Claire Miller with 3:55 left. Tufts quickly pulled ahead behind an 11-0 spurt spanning 2:24, on a three by Russell for a 35-32 lead. A layup and three from Mustafaj in the final minutes propelled the Panthers into the break ahead 37-35.
Each team had small advantages for a majority of the third quarter before a 10-2 run gave the Jumbos a 57-49 lead in the final minute of the stanza. The Panthers headed into the fourth down by four (57-53) behind a pair of free throws and a layup from Mustafaj.
Tufts took a 60-55 advantage on a three by Pointdexter McHan with 7:28 remaining, before the Panthers regained the lead (63-60) behind a quick 8-0 run. However, the Jumbos would regain the lead and finish off the victory late.
Mustafaj led all players with 27 points to go along with three assists for the Panthers. Augusta Dixon added 14 points and a team-best seven rebounds, while Emily Downer recorded 11 points and six boards.
Portions of recap courtesy of Middlebury College
