BRUNSWICK, ME (January 10, 2025) -- The Tufts University women's basketball team was within one of No. 5 Bowdoin College with seven minutes to play, but the host Polar Bears ended the game on an 18-4 run to pull away for a 62-47 victory inside Morrell Gymnasium in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) opener for both squads.
Tufts (9-5, 0-1 NESCAC) was in the game the entire time, coming out of the gates fast with the contest's first five points all from senior
Hannah Kelly. Bowdoin responded and would take a 15-12 lead into the second quarter, as Sydney Jones tallied seven points in the period for the Polar Bears.
The Jumbos would once again come out fast in the second quarter, tallying the first eight points of the period to take a 20-15 lead after another bucket from Kelly. Tufts would take its largest lead of the game at six points with 5:14 to play in the first half after a jumper from
Callie O'Brien, but Bowdoin battled back to take the lead just before half on another Jones' lay-up to make the score 27-26 at the break.
The third quarter saw the game remain close, as a triple from
Sofia Gonzalez deadlocked the score at 31 with 7:54 remaining in the frame. Jones scored on the next possession for the Polar Bears, later hitting a three-pointer to make it 39-24 with 3:03 to go in the third quarter. That would be the largest lead for Bowdoin until the fourth quarter, as Abbie Quinn made it a six-point game for the hosts at 42-36 with nine minutes to play. Tufts pulled to within one twice, including at 44-43 on a Gonzalez driving lay-up, but the Jumbos would make just one field goal over the final six minutes as Bowdoin pulled away.
Kelly was the offensive leader for the Jumbos, as the senior finished with a career-high 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting, making three triples. Gonzalez had 11 points and four rebounds, while
Caitlyn O'Boyle came off the bench to score six points along with a career-high 14 rebounds. Senior
Annika Decker added five points and two assists, and
Monet Witherspoon also scored four points to go with three rebounds.
Tufts was 20-of-56 for the game, making 35.7 percent on field goals, but shot just two free throws all game.
Reigning NESCAC Player of the Year Sydney Jones had a game-high 20 points, tallying 11 rebounds and five assists as well. Quinn also had 14 points for the Polar Bears, who hit eight trifectas on the night.
Tufts will stay in Maine, taking on Colby College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in more conference play in Waterville, ME.
--JUMBOS--
