MEDFORD - The Tufts University women's basketball team won its second consecutive NESCAC title on Sunday, pulling away from Bowdoin College in the second half to earn a 68-52 victory at Cousens Gym.

Sophomore Josie Lee scored a career-high 12 points with six rebounds and five assists

Four Jumbos scored in double digits, led by 16 points from junior Emma Roberson. Sophomore Michela North finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Top-seeded Tufts (26-1) earns the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament and will very likely host first and second round action at Cousens next weekend (March 6-7).

Bowdoin, led by 15 points and 12 rebounds from junior Shannon Brady, was playing in its 10th NESCAC final. The Polar Bears, seeded second in the tournament, drop to 23-4 and have a strong chance to earn an NCAA berth when the tournament field is announced on Monday.

The Jumbos never trailed in the game, but weren't able to pull away until well into the second half. Bowdoin was within seven, 41-34, on a jumper by senior Siena Mitman with 12:33 remaining in regulation. Tufts used a 12-4 run over the next five minutes to lead by 15 (53-38) on a lay-up by North.

The Polar Bears whittled the margin down to 10, 54-44, when senior tri-captain Sara Binkhorst scored a lay-up with 5:48 on the clock. Roberson, on her way to matching a career-high for points, hit a three in response. Tufts would push the margin to 17, and Bowdoin's last gasp came on a three ball by sophomore Marle Curle that put them down 14 (63-49) with two minutes left.

Sophomore Josie Lee, starting in place of senior tri-captain Hannah Foley, who was injured in Saturday's NESCAC semi-final against Williams, joined Roberson in filling the void. She led Tufts with nine points in the first half and finished with a career-high 12 to go with six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Lee logged 35 minutes while Roberson played 37.

Tufts had an early 15-8 lead on Roberson's lay-up at the 14-minute mark. Bowdoin was never too far behind, and closed to 17-14 on a pair of free throws by Mitman at 11:42. The teams then went six minutes without scoring until Lee's lay-up with 5:49 to play until halftime.

Brady's jumper had Bowdoin within 21-18 with 4:17 remaining in the half, but Tufts would go to the locker room with a 28-22 advantage after senior tri-captain Kelsey Morehead beat the buzzer with a floating lay-up.

The Polar Bears were led by 10 points and eight rebounds in the first 20 minutes by Brady. However, the visitors were 0 for 5 on three-point attempts. North had seven points, four rebounds and three blocks at the break for Tufts.

A three-point play by senior tri-captain Hayley Kanner opened second-half scoring and gave Tufts a 31-22 lead. The Polar Bears' 6-2 spurt made it a five-point game at 33-28, but the hosts would soon build their lead to a comfortable margin. The Jumbos shot 72.2 percent (13/18) from the field in the second half and added 11 points at the line.

Kanner was the fourth Jumbo to score in double figures with 12. Tufts finished the game shooting 52.3 percent (23/44) and blocked eight shots.

First-year Kate Kerrigan had nine points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals for Bowdoin. The Polar Bears out-rebounded Tufts by seven, 36-29. Curle and Mitman also scored nine points for the visitors.

Tufts has now won 26 straight games against NESCAC opponents in the regular season and post-season combined.

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