MEDFORD, MA (January 9, 2026) -- Sophomore forward
Abi Stone had a career-high 14 points while senior
Annie Aspesi tallied 15 points but it wasn't enough as the Tufts University women's basketball team dropped its 2026 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) opener to No. 10 Bowdoin College 76-60 in play from Cousens Gymnasium Friday evening.
The difference was the third quarter, where the Polar Bears (10-1, 1-0 NESCAC) outscored Tufts 24-15 to open up a four-point lead at the halftime intermission.
The Jumbos came out quick in the first stanza, leading by as many as six points in the first quarter at 17-11 following a jumper from
Stella Galanes with just over a minute left in the first stanza. Tufts would continue to lead until the 7:02 mark of the second quarter, when Grace Kinum scored to deadlock the game at 19. Bowdoin and Tufts exchanged leads over the next few possessions, but Bowdoin finished the first half on a 10-3 run to take a 34-30 lead into the intermission.
The Polar Bears pushed their lead up to six twice in the early going of the second half, but Tufts battled back to regain the lead at 40-39 after a three-point play from Aspesi three minutes into the third quarter. Bowdoin would score 15 of the game's next 18 points though, 10 coming from Carly Davey to take a 12-point lead while never looking back.
Aspesi was 5-of-13 overall from the floor, adding six rebounds and three assists to her team-high total Friday. Stone went 6-of-12 offensively, adding five rebounds and two steals, while first-year
Tessa Lozner contributed 11 points. First-year guard
Abby Congdon played all 40 minutes by totaled 10 points, four rebounds and three helpers, while
Claire Kolkhorst recorded eight points and six rebounds.
Tufts shot a respectable 41.5 percent (22-53) from the floor but struggled at the line making just 10-of-22 (45.5 percent).
Abbie Quinn finished with 22 points and eight boards to lead all scorers for the Polar Bears, while Davey tallied 19 points as well.
The Jumbos (7-6, 0-1 NESCAC) takes on Colby College Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in more NESCAC play in Cousens Gym.
--JUMBOS--
