Box Score 
NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Tufts University women's basketball team (17-3, 6-2 NESCAC) bounced back from an upset loss at the hands of Trinity College on Friday night to defeat Connecticut College (4-16, 2-6 NESCAC) 78-45 this afternoon. Three starters, forward Sofia Rosa (pictured), forward Maggie Russell, and guard Erin Poindexter McHan, finished the game with double-digit scores, and seven Jumbos scored at least five points. Tufts out-rebounded Connecticut 48-22, and shot 53.4 percent from the floor compared to their NESCAC rivals' 29.8 percent.
Rosa led all scorers, scoring 16 points and going 7-8 from the field, to go with four rebounds and three assists. Walking double-double Maggie Russell posted another impressive effort, scoring 14 points, corralling 10 rebounds, and posting two steals, two blocks, and two assists. Poindexter McHan turned in another strong shooting performance, scoring 11 points, including three from downtown, and turning in five rebounds and three assists.
The Jumbos started the game with a quick 9-0 run, with three layups coming off the hands of Rosa. Connecticut stopped the Jumbo run with a three-point jumpshot off the hands of guard Molly Cronin, but Poindexter McHan quickly answered back with a corner three of her own. Tufts shot the ball well and drove to the basket easily, while finding the open player for open looks beyond the arc. A last-second layup by Connecticut guard Tiffani Bartee brought the Tufts lead down to six (21-15) at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Jumbo shooting stretch began to cool off somewhat, but effective defense against dribble penetration stopped Connecticut from taking advantage. Around the seven-minute mark in the period, the explosive Tufts offense began heating up once again. Three straight made baskets in less than a minute, including another three-pointer from McHan and one made three by Joelle Zelony brought the Tufts lead up to 14. In the waning minutes of the quarter, Russell converted a mid-range jumper and a close layup to end the quarter with a 15 point Jumbo lead, entering halftime up 37-22.
In the third period, Connecticut and Tufts traded baskets, both teams playing effective perimeter defense and driving effectively down the lane. Connecticut had narrowed the lead to 11, but the potent Tufts offense soared off to a 13-0 run, and the defense kept the Camels from scoring for the last four and a half minutes of the quarter. Tufts entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable lead, up 58-34 on the Camels.
In the final quarter, Connecticut ended their scoring slump with a layup by senior Emily Tripp, and the teams traded free-throws. Following this, Tufts went on a 6-0 run, bringing their lead up to 30 points. With the game secured, Coach Pace pulled the remaining starters and allowed the bench unit some time to shine. Freshman Sofia Gonzales drove into the paint and threw an impressive dime out to sophomore Hannah Kelly, who knocked down the three-pointer from the corner to seal the deal for a Tufts victory.
Tufts will finish the regular season on the road, with a 7:00 game on Friday, February 11 at Middlebury and a 3:00 game the next day at Williams.
Written by Max Chow-Gillette, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
