MEDFORD, MA (December 5, 2024) -- The Tufts University women's basketball team never trailed Thursday evening at host MIT, winning its third straight contest with a 66-60 win over the Engineers in non-conference action from Rockwell Cage.
The Jumbos (6-2) won holding the lead for the entire game, but it wasn't easy as the second half Tufts fighting off a charging MIT squad. After leading by as many as 11 in the first quarter, Tufts took a five-point edge of 32-27 into the halftime locker room.
The third quarter saw the Engineers (2-6) get their deficit down to as much as one at 40-39 but the Jumbos extended the lead out to seven just before the end of the third on a three-pointer from
Annie Ryan. In the fourth, MIT once again pulled to within one at 51-50 only to be thwarted by a triple from first-year
Monet Witherspoon.
Tufts would grow its advantage back up to seven twice in the fourth quarter, going 6-of-8 from the charity stripe during the final minute to secure the victory.
The win pushed Tufts road record against MIT to 6-0 all-time dating back to 1974.
Tufts made a season-high nine three-pointers as the Jumbos shot a very strong 40.9 percent from behind the three-point line. Witherspoon did her part with four three-pointers on the way to tying her career-high with 19 points.
Sophomore
Sarah Crossett was 5-of-11 on field goals Thursday, scoring 13 points while corralling five rebounds. Senior
Sofia Gonzalez tallied 12 points and a team-best eight rebounds, and Ryan finished with eight points thanks to 2-of-5 shooting from three-point land.
Senior
Caitlyn O'Boyle pulled in seven rebounds for Tufts, and
Annika Decker had game-highs of four assists and three steals.
Tufts shot 40.4 percent (23-57) for the night, which included a 64.3 percent first quarter shooting performance (9-14).
Deana Prasad tallied 13 points to pace the Engineers, and Elise Harvey and Kamsi Nwogu each had 12 points in the loss for the Engineers.
Tufts will finish first-semester action Sunday at noon inside Cousens Gymnasium, hosting No. 1 New York University in more non-conference play.
--JUMBOS--
