Medford, Mass. – The visiting Trinity College Bantams gave top-ranked Tufts University all it could handle for three quarters, before the Jumbos pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 77-61 triumph to remain undefeated at 21-0.  Trinity falls to 15-6 overall and 4-3 in the NESCAC entering a pivotal league contest tomorrow at Bates at 3 p.m. The Jumbos, now also 7-0 in the conference, host league rival Connecticut College tomorrow at 3 p.m.  Trinity rookie Bria Fuller (Springdale, Md.) scored a game-high 19 points, including 15 in the first half. 

The Bantams outscored the Jumbos in the first period despite falling behind, 13-4, about halfway through the period. Trinity outscored the Jumbos 13-3 in the final four minutes of the first quarter, including nine points by Fuller, to take a 19-18 lead after one played.  Trinity pushed its advantage to six at 25-19 on two free throws each by Fuller and sophomore center Elizabeth Althoff (Staten Island, N.Y.) an Althoff basket inside, but Tufts fought back and led, 27-26, with 3:28 on the clock after a three-pointer by Erin from Poindexter-McHan.  A jumper from Fuller put the Bantams on top again, and then jumpers from rookie guard Naia Saddler (Boyds, Md.) and sophomore Kaylen Campbell (Hillsborough, N.C.) pushed their lead to five again. Poindexter-McHan scored five points late in the second stanza to give the Jumbos a 35-34 lead into the break.

The teams traded the lead six times in the first two minutes of the third quarter. Tufts gradually pushed its lead up to seven at 51-44 with a 5-0 run, before Althoff scored on a layup with 13 seconds on the clock to make it, 53-48, at the final break.  Tufts outscored Trinity, 24-13, in the final 10 minutes. Senior Sadie Otley opened the fourth with a three for the Jumbos, who extended their advantage to as many as 20 points in the last quarter.  Fuller made sif her 10 shots from the field and all seven of her free throws for her 19 points, while Althoff and senior tri-captain Peace Kabari (Manchester, N.H.) turned in ten points and five boards each.  Poindexter-McHan led Jumbo scorers with 14 points, while Otley  and Emily Briggs tallied 13 points apiece.  Tufts made 10 shots from long range in 24 tries and Trinity sank one in just five attempts.