MEDFORD, MA (December 1, 2024) -- The Tufts University women's basketball team allowed only six second-half field goals, while finishing the game on a 16-4 run to pull away for a nice 62-47 non-conference victory over visiting Rhode Island College in non-conference action from Cousens Gymnasium.
Once again the key to the victory for the Jumbos (4-2) was its defense, as it forced Rhode Island College (3-3) into just 29 percent shooting for the game while allowing just one three-point make over the entirety of the game. The 29 percent shooting against was a season-low for a Jumbo opponent, while Tufts also forced a season-high 24 turnovers in the game. The 17 steals for Tufts were also a season-best, and the most for a Jumbo squad since recording 18 against Bridgewater State December 10, 2019.
On the other side of the ball, Tufts shot a season-best 46.7 percent from three-point range, knocking down seven of its 15 attempts for the game.
Tufts came out quick as its scored seven of the game's first nine points, leading by as many as seven in the first quarter at 14-7 after a three-pointer from
Hannah Kelly. Tufts would continue to lead into the second quarter, when a pair of free throws by RIC from Angelina Nardolillo tied the contest at 21 with 5:18 left in the opening half.
The Jumbos pushed back ahead, but RIC took its first lead of the contest with less than two minutes left in the second quarter on a bucket by Maggie Schwab. A three-pointer by junior
Annie Aspesi vaulted Tufts back in front, and late scores by senior
Caitlyn O'Boyle and Kelly put Tufts ahead 35-30 at the break.
After the intermission the Jumbos regained a seven-point lead at 37-30 but a 10-2 run by the Anchorwomen pushed them ahead 40-39 with 2:45 to go in the third quarter. A jumper by
Mikayla Paquette answered the run from RIC, and a buzzer beater from
Sofia Gonzalez made it 43-40 Tufts going to the fourth.
The visitors stayed within one score for the beginning of the last frame, but an 11-1 run by the Jumbos over a four-minute span gave the hosts their largest lead at 13 points after a jumper by
Monet Witherspoon. The lead would prove to be plenty for Tufts, as it allowed only seven points in the fourth quarter in rolling to the 15-point win.
Witherspoon had a career afternoon for the Jumbos, as the first-year finished with a career-high 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting, knocking down two of her three triples while adding six boards and five steals. Gonzalez tallied 12 points, five steals, four assists and three rebounds in the win, and Kelly came off the bench to score eight points as well.
Aspesi was strong off the bench for Tufts, as she scored seven points and dished out four assists in addition to her lockdown defense all day.
Sarah Crossett finished with nine rebounds, and O'Boyle had six points, six rebounds three blocks and two steals in a productive 18 minutes off the bench.
Tufts shot 25-for-67 (37.3 percent) overall for the contest, and used a nine-point edge (27-18) in bench points to help earn the win.
Nardolillo posted a double-double for the Anchorwomen with 17 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks Sunday, while RIC leading scorer Madison Medbury had 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals despite struggling from the field (2-14 FG).
The Jumbos will have a day off before traveling into Boston to take on Emmanuel College in non-conference play Tuesday evening, December 3 at 7 p.m.
--JUMBOS--
