AMHERST, MA (February 7, 2025) -- The Tufts University women's basketball team saw its five-game winning streak come to an end on Friday evening, dropping a 66-59 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) decision at host Amherst College in play from LeFrak Gymnasium.
The difference in the game on Friday night was Amherst's ability to make shots, both at the line and from the floor, as the host Mammoths (15-6, 3-4 NESCAC) shot 47.8 percent from the field in addition to making 18-of-23 from the charity stripe. Tufts (14-7, 5-3 NESCAC) was solid at the line as well, but was awarded just six free throw attempts, making five.
Tufts took the early lead at 2-0 but the host Mammoths scored the game's next 11 points to take a nine-point lead with under three minutes to play in the opening frame. The Jumbos pulled to within four at 13-9, but Amherst responded with four straight to make it 17-9 after 10 minutes. Laura Mendell had nine points for the Mammoths in the first stanza.
The Jumbos pulled to within one possession at 20-17 after a jumper from sophomore
Stella Galanes, but Amherst extended its lead back up to 10 points at 32-22 with 2:42 remaining in the half. The hosts eventually took an eight-point lead into the break, through Galanes had a strong period with eight points in the second quarter to lead Tufts.
The Mammoths continued to keep the Jumbos at an arm's length through the third quarter, taking a game-high 13 point lead at 53-40 early on in the fourth quarter. Tufts showed some fight though, going on a 12-2 run over the next seven minutes to pull to within three at 55-52 with 2:51 left. That would be the closest the Jumbos would get the rest of the way though, as Amherst clinched the game at the line.
Senior
Sofia Gonzalez finished with a team-high 16 points, nailing three of her eight trifectas, adding six rebounds. Galanes added 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting, and first-year
Monet Witherspoon tallied her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Witherspoon also added two steals. Senior
Annika Decker had a strong game with nine points, six assists and three rebounds, while
Annie Ryan came off the bench to score five points as well.
Tufts finished 24-of-64 (37.5 percent) from the floor, making six of its 18 attempts from three-point range.
Amherst got a game-high 22 points from Mendell, while Reagan Pahl had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Macie Nugent came off the bench to score 12 points as well for the Mammoths.
Tufts will be back in action Saturday afternoon on the road, taking on Hamilton College at 3 p.m. in Clinton, NY in league play.
--JUMBOS--
