MEDFORD, MA (November 9, 2023) -- The 2023-24 Tufts University women's basketball team gets its season underway on Friday evening, traveling to No. 5 Rhode Island College in an early season test against another national power. It has become common place to see the Jumbos playing the best that Division III has to offer, as Tufts has the second-hardest schedule in 2022-23, and that trend will continue into this season especially before the Holiday break.
"I believe in playing the best teams, it really is that you have to beat the best to be the best," said head coach
Jill Pace. "I do think that playing great teams prepares you for the end of the season. You saw that last year, and we're trying to do that on a yearly basis. We want to be playing our best basketball in March and you always have that in the back of your mind when scheduling."
Tufts starts its season on the road against RIC, but then turns around two days later to take on NCAA Tournament squad St. John Fisher College in Cousens Gymnasium. Despite the quick start of four games in eight days, the Jumbos come into the season with high hopes as Tufts returns all but one player from last year's squad that made the NCAA Elite Eight round before falling to national runner-up Christopher Newport University. Tufts brings back 95 percent of its scoring from last year, including all five starters, and with that comes expectation. Tufts is ranked No. 4 in the opening poll by D3hoops.com, but Pace spoke recently about how grounded this team has been so far.
"We talk explicitly about expectations and year-to-year we have similar goals, and what I preach is getting better on a day-to-day basis," said Pace. "Early in practice, we squashed looking ahead and really just want to stay focused on Rhode Island College. It's about having open and honest communication...it helps stay focused on the task at hand and that's the first chunk of games before NESCAC games start."
Another thing that the Jumbos have going for them coming into this season is the fact that many of the upperclassmen have been in leadership roles prior to this season, which has helped in terms of allowing the squad to keep each other accountable. That drive to succeed by the squad, along with Pace's feel for her team, is just one of many reasons that Pace wanted to play such a tough schedule. "It's nice to have such a large chunk of returners, so we really hit the ground running when it hit October 22," said Pace. "With so many upper class players to help the younger players along, it's been this is what we're doing so let's get in there and do it. I've been impressed with the work ethic and energy."
The depth that Tufts has returning is staggering on paper, as Tufts has 10 players back from a season ago that posted at least 10 points in a single game. That versatility has allowed Pace to game plan for different opponents, go with different lineups and give teams different looks.
"We are super deep," said Pace. "I've seen every player step up in practice. I do think that we have people that are ready to contribute at a moments notice, and that makes us really hard to prepare for while also being able to give people rest if need be. It's a good problem to have that we are so deep."
The Jumbos though do also have the luxury of having one of the best players in the nation on the floor at most times, as Preseason All-American First Team forward
Maggie Russell is back for her final season. Russell was a unanimous All-American as a junior, also earning NESCAC Player of the Year after averaging 19.8 points and pulling in 11.4 rebounds per game.
Russell also has fellow All-NESCAC honoree
Sofia Gonzalez back as a junior, while
Callie O'Brien,
Annika Decker and
Samantha Sousa round out a starting lineup intact from a season ago. Along with that, Tufts will have seniors
Hannah Kelly and
Mallory Folliard back as well to help lead the way. The familiarity with each other was something else Pace talked about being a huge strength. "Players that have played together just know each others tendencies, and that takes time," said Pace. "Knowing each other allows us to get going quicker and give feedback honestly to each other because there's a sense that you're able to hold each other accountable."
A full breakdown by position is below:
GUARDS
The depth at the guard spot this season will be a big time strength for the Jumbos, as all the backcourt trio of Gonzalez, Decker and O'Brien return as starters. O'Brien stepped into the starting lineup after four games last season, and was one of the most clutch players on the squad as she posted 6.0 points per game while finishing second on the team with 90 assists. O'Brien is a smart, athletic player that seems to always be around the ball, and her experience will huge for the Jumbos in 2023-24.
Decker handled the ball most nights for Tufts, and there might not be a better on-ball guard defender in the nation than Decker. The Jumbo point guard finished with 5.3 points per night, but hit 35.6 percent from downtown and also led the squad with 91 assists and 54 steals. Her toughness and athleticism is what makes her indispensable to the Jumbos squad. Gonzalez had a breakout season as a sophomore, finishing second on the squad with 11.3 points per game while her 78 three-pointers made was tops in the NESCAC. Gonzalez ranked in the top 20 in the NCAA in three-point percentage as well, making 39.2 percent from deep. Gonzalez plays with a confidence and swagger that's immediately evident to those watching, and hit clutch shot after clutch shot in 2022-23.
The strength at guard doesn't stop there though for the Jumbos, as sophomores
Annie Aspesi and
Sophia Davis return this season while newcomers
Stella Galanes and
Annie Ryan bolster the group. Aspesi missed the entire season last year, but is very athletic, gritty and can defend multiple spots for the Jumbos. Davis was huge for the Jumbos off the bench last year, as her ability to make plays at every level was displayed throughout the season. Davis is a fantastic passer, a great finisher around the rim and made 53.8 percent from three-point land.
Jumbo fans will recognize the last name of Ryan, as
Annie Ryan is the younger sister of former Tufts standout Molly Ryan. The younger sister has a big-time motor both offensively and defensively, and has a high basketball IQ. Galanes is another tough guard for the Jumbos, as she is a true point guard that excels at getting her teammates open and running in transition.
WINGS/FORWARDS
The front court has tons of options behind starters Russell and Sousa, but those two drew the majority of big minutes for the Jumbos last season. Russell ranked in the top 20 nationally in double-doubles, field goals, free throw attempts and makes, total rebounds and points per game. Russell is currently ranked eighth on the active career leaders in Division III for rebounding average with 11.42, while her 31 career double-doubles is 21st right now in Division III.
Russell is able to score at every level of the floor, and her basketball IQ is as high as it gets. She has also been working on her range, which will continue to allow her to put the ball on the deck and attack the rim off the bounce. Another smart player that seems to always be in the right spot, Sousa is the type of glue player that every great players needs. The senior brings great energy and leadership on the team, and her 14 points in the NCAA First Round against Merchant Marine last season got the Jumbos going in that contest.
Sophomore
Sarah Crossett returns to the squad this season after starting all 17 games for the Jumbos she played until her season came to an end due to injury. Another inside-outside player, Crossett is great around the rim, is a superior rebounder on the defensive glass and averaged 10.4 points per game before her injury. She was also second on the squad in rebounds with 5.8. When Crossett went down last year, it allowed minutes for others to step up and players like
Caitlyn O'Boyle,
Mikayla Paquette, Folliard and Kelly stepped up.
Kelly is a long, athletic wing player that can defend all five spots on defense. Offensively, Kelly is great in transition and finished with 19 three-pointers as she poured in 5.5 points per game in 31 games of action. O'Boyle saw her game time increase throughout the season because when she was in, she produced. The Mahopac, NY native posted 3.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, but tallied 16 points in a big home win over Middlebury and then finished with 14 against Wesleyan in just 17 minutes. O'Boyle also added 11 rebounds off the bench against MIT and Williams College.
Folliard played in 28 of 31 games for the Jumbos, and she could be the best post defender the Jumbos have. Folliard blocked seven shots on the season, second-best on the squad to just the 10 by Russell. She has great hands around the rim as well, and runs the floor extremely well. Paquette is another player that Tufts can go to when it needs a bucket, as her post moves are among the best on the squad. Money from 15 feet in, Paquette has a smooth jump shot and is a good passer out of the post as well.
The Jumbos do add one player to the front court, as
Hope Nardone joins the squad after a strong prep career at Phillips Andover. Nardone is a tall, athletic wing player that can play guard but is a sniper from three-point range. Her ability to stretch the defense will be an asset for Tufts, and her length defensively will be key as well as she looks to earn minutes for the Jumbos.
COACHING STAFF
The Jumbos return their entire coaching staff this season from a year ago, as
Sam Mancinelli and
Vanese Barnes return to the sidelines as assistants to Pace. The continuity on the sidelines is something that Pace appreciates and commented on recently. "It's nice having people that understand the expectation that we have, and it's been fun for me to give them things and just let them go. They're huge assets to this program, and we're thrilled to have them back," said Pace. Pace herself is entering her fifth year, fourth season, with the Jumbos having gone 74-13 in Medford. Her teams have won at least 22 games every season at Tufts, and including her final season at Pomona-Pitzer she is 96-19 over her last four seasons as a head coach.
--JUMBOS--
