MIDDLETOWN, CT (January 30, 2026) -- Sophomore
Claire Kolkhorst scored a career-high 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting from deep, and first-year
Tessa Lozner added 21 points and six rebounds to lead the Tufts University women's basketball team to a 74-57 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) win inside Silloway Gymnasium Friday evening.
Kolkhorst's career shooting performance was part of a great shooting night for the Jumbos (10-9, 2-4 NESCAC), as they went 12-of-30 (40 percent) from behind the arc while nailing three triples in all four quarters. After struggling against Connecticut College last Saturday, Tufts 12 made three-pointers were a season-best and the most since nailing 12 at Springfield College January 1, 2025. It was the most in a NESCAC win since hitting 13 against Middlebury College February 11, 2022.
The Jumbos came out fast Friday night on the road, scoring 13 of the game's first 17 points capped by a triple from senior guard
Annie Aspesi with 5:48 left in the first quarter. The lead in the opening frame would swell to 12 as Tufts eventually took a 21-13 lead into the second quarter after a jumper from first-year guard
Abby Congdon.
Wesleyan got as close as three early in the second quarter, but the Jumbos once again lengthened their advantage as a lay-up just before the halftime intermission by
Abi Stone gave Tufts a 38-26 lead at the break.
After halftime the Jumbos would start to pull away, scoring the period's first nine points thanks to four from Lozner to take a 47-26 lead just under two minutes into the quarter. Wesleyan battled back as it trimmed its deficit to 10 on an Olivia Quinn bucket just before the end of the quarter for a 56-46 Tufts lead.
The Jumbos controlled the fourth though, outscoring Wesleyan 18-11 in the final period to seal the victory.
Kolkhorst was 8-of-13 overall on Friday, adding five rebounds in addition to her career-best point total, while Lozner was efficient with a 7-for-12 shooting clip. Lozner also had four assists.
Aspesi was in double figures with 12 points and six rebounds, with Congdon chipping in with nine points and three rebounds.
Siobhan Stapleton also had five rebounds and four helpers, as Tufts out-rebounded Wesleyan 43-31.
Quinn posted 17 points for the Cardinals (6-12, 1-5 NESCAC), and Meghan Kirck added 15 points on five made triples.
Tufts will stay in Connecticut and take on Trinity College Saturday on the road at 3 p.m. in the final road NESCAC game of the regular season for the Jumbos.
--JUMBOS--
