Sunday: 'Bos depose conference foes

More news about: Amherst | Guilford | Shenandoah | Tufts
Feb 24, 2019
 
No. 6 Tufts went to Maine this weekend and came home with wins over two highly ranked foes and a NESCAC title.
 

Tufts defeated top-ranked Bowdoin 75-69 to win the NESCAC championship title while Shenandoah proved that eight was enough in the ODAC. In men's action Guilford toppled Randolph-Macon, Hanover held off Transy and Amherst won the NESCAC.

Jac Knapp scored 15 of her game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, including four clutch free throws in the final 30 seconds, and No. 6 Tufts knocked off No. 1 Bowdoin, 75-69. The Jumbos' stellar defense forced the Polar Bears into 21 turnovers and Tufts shot 47 percent from the field. Bowdoin is a lock for one of the at-large bids into the NCAA Tournament.

For those who believe in trends, Bowdoin's loss was good news for Thomas More. The second-ranked Saints pummeled Valley Forge 92-47 in the ACAA tournament finale and will enter the NCAA Tournament as the only undefeated team in Division III basketball. The last six teams to win a women's national championship did so with a perfect record.

In the WIAC title game No. 12 Oshkosh broke through against Whitewater in a big way. After losing both regular season games between the teams, the Titans dominated Whitewater, 69-40. Oshkosh outscored the Warhawks 40-16 in the second half and had four players reach double figures, led by Leah Porath with 16.

Eighth-seeded Shenandoah completed a stunning run to the ODAC championship as the Hornets defeated third-seed Washington and Lee, 63-53. The Hornets entered the ODAC tournament with a 12-13 record and finished it with wins over the first, third and fourth seeds in the tournament. Shenandoah will make its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2000 and its first ever as a member of the ODAC.

Eight was also a lucky number for No. 11 Amherst -- the Mammoths topped No. 10 Hamilton 62-56 to win their eighth NESCAC crown. Amherst outrebounded the Continentals by 13 and got 16 points apiece from Grant Robinson and Fru Che. Hamilton is a lock to receive an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Guilford might've been a bubble team entering the day, but the Quakers aren't anymore. The Quakers upended No. 5 Randolph-Macon 70-59 to clinch the ODAC's automatic bid and push the Yellow Jackets into the at-large pool. Jaylen Gore scored a career-high 22 points for Guilford, which won its fourth conference title under Tom Palombo.

Hanover survived a potential game-tying shot from Transylvania and held off the Pioneers 76-73 in the HCAC tournament title game. The Panthers built a 9-point lead with midway through the second half, but Transy pulled within one possesion with six minutes left and stayed there for the rest of the game. All-American Cam Fails scored 30 points for Hanover and 13-for-18 from the foul line.