MEDFORD, MA (January 12, 2024) -- The Tufts University women's basketball team pulled to one twice late in the fourth quarter against No. 16 Amherst College, but a tying three late was off the mark and the Mammoths sealed the game at the line as the Jumbos fell 68-63 in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play from Cousens Gymnasium Friday evening.
The Mammoths (13-1, 2-1 NESCAC) came out of the gates quick on the host Jumbos, making nine of their first 12 field goals while taking a 23-17 lead after the first 10 minutes. In the first quarter, Amherst was 4-of-4 from behind the three-point line but the Jumbos were able to stay within striking distance thanks to 46.2 percent shooting of their own. The tides would quickly change in the second stanza for both teams, as the squads combined for just four made field goals.
In the second period, Tufts stifled the visiting Mammoths as the visitors shot 1-for-13 in the period, scoring only two points on a jumper from Reeya Patel with 8:37 to play in the quarter. That would be the last made field goal for Amherst for exactly 10 minutes of game time. That lull in shooting for Amherst allowed the Jumbos to rally back, as Tufts finished the first half on a 9-0 run capped by two free throws by senior
Maggie Russell to take a 28-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.
After the intermission, once again things turned around as the Mammoths once again found their shooting legs going 8-for-14 (57.2 percent) in the third quarter, outscoring Tufts 23-9 in the frame to take a 48-37 lead heading to the fourth quarter. It was Amherst's largest lead of the game, and the biggest edge for either team Friday evening.
In the fourth, Amherst was able to keep the Jumbos at arm's reach, taking a 10-point edge at 58-48 on a free throw by Kori Barach with 4:21 to play. Senior
Samantha Sousa would connect on a triple, followed by an offensive rebound and lay-up to pull Tufts to within five with three minutes remaining. After a Mammoth turnover, sophomore
Annie Aspesi knocked down a three-pointer to make it 58-56.
On the next possession, Tufts would get an offensive rebound by Sousa and her attempt back at the rim resulted in a foul but she was whistled for a technical foul. Both Sousa and Reeya Patel would make both free throws to push the Amherst lead back to three. Patel connected on two more from the line to make it 63-58 with under a minute to play, but Tufts didn't go away.
With less than 30 seconds remaining, Russell was fouled and made both, and junior
Sofia Gonzalez nailed a three to make it 64-63 with 22 seconds left. After two more freebies by Amherst, a tying three-pointer late was off the mark and Barach sunk both free throws late to seal the victory.
Sousa finished with her first collegiate double-double, as she totaled 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting, adding 10 rebounds including six on the offensive end. Russell finished with a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds, while senior
Callie O'Brien was 5-of-7 from the floor, scoring 11 points to go with four rebounds and five assists.
Aspesi added eight points, nailing two of her four three-pointers, as Tufts was strong from deep making 40.9 percent of its three-point attempts (9-22). The Jumbos also held a 38-30 edge on the glass, but Amherst posted a decided 34-16 edge in points in the paint.
Patel led Amherst with 22 points, and Barach tallied 17 points and seven rebounds in the win.
Tufts (9-5, 1-1 NESCAC) will battle Hamilton College at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon in Cousens Gymnasium in more NESCAC action.
--JUMBOS--
