MEDFORD - The Tufts University women's basketball team improved to 17-3 overall and 6-1 in NESCAC with a 64-52 victory over Bates College on Saturday afternoon at Cousens Gym. Sophomore Liz Moynihan (Storrs, CT) led the Jumbos with 14 points.
Tufts had won its previous four games by an average of 27.8 points, but Bates would stick around for the majority of this contest. The Jumbos led by 11 early and 10 at the half before Bates was able to close the margin to five points in the second half. However, the Jumbos pulled away and weren't threatened down the stretch.
Moynihan was the only Jumbo scorer in double digits, as Tufts was as balanced as ever. Senior co-captain Kate Barnosky (Huntington Station, NY) finished with nine points, five rebouds, two assists and two steals. Junior Collier Clegg (Evanston, IL) put up eight points, pulled down seven rebounds and had two assists. Tufts has now won 17 of its last 18 games.
Bates, which dropped to 8-11 overall and 2-5 in the league, featured a game-high 18 points from first-year Molly Brown (South Dartmouth, MA). She also had a team-high six rebounds and made three steals. Sophomore Meredith Kelly (Cohasset, MA) scored 10 points, while senior Annie Burns (Topsfield, MA) recorded five assists for the Bobcats.
Tufts surged to an early 15-4 lead nine minutes into the game, with six different players scoring the baskets during the strong start. However, Bates would win the rest of the half 18-17 and Tufts took a 32-22 advantage to the locker room.
First-year Hannah Foley (Acton, MA) had six points on two three-pointers to lead the Jumbos at the half, while Brown did the bulk of her team's scoring with 10 points. Both teams shot well from outside with a combined 7 for 15 (46.6 percent) on threes.
After Tufts scored the first two points of the second half, Bates scored the next seven and was within 34-29 with 12:34 on the clock. Moynihan answered with a three for the 'Bos, and the margin bounced back and forth between eight and 10 points for the next three minutes.
Another Jumbo three, by junior co-captain Bre Dufault (Hampden, MA) at 9:20, initiated a run of nine straight points by Tufts to give them a 19-point, 54-35 lead after a pair of free throws by Clegg at the 6:34 mark.
A three-pointer by Burns had the Bobcats within 56-42 at 4:22, but the Jumbos were able to keep Bates at a distance for the remainder of the game.
Tufts dominated the boards 49-29, with senior Tiffany Kornegay (Carver, MA) gathering a game-high nine. The Jumbos finished at 35.4 percent shooting (23/65), while Bates hit 18 of 53 shots (34 percent).
The Jumbos finish their non-league schedule on Tuesday night at Rhode Island College. Tip off is at 7 pm. Bates will host Maine-Presque Isle that evening at 5:30 pm.
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