MEDFORD - Sophomore Hannah Foley (Acton, MA) poured in 28 points as the Tufts women's basketball team improved to 17-0 overall and 5-0 in NESCAC with an 80-36 win over Wesleyan on Friday night at Cousens Gym.

Foley's point total was the most by a Jumbo since Colleen Hart went for 31 in an NCAA game at Kean on March 6, 2010. Foley hit 10 of 14 shots tonight, including a 4 for 5 effort on threes. The Jumbos shot 53.7 percent (29/54) overall, and their 80 points was their best total since an 88-point game versus Lasell on November 20, 2010.

Wesleyan, which dropped to 8-7 and 1-4 in the league, was led by 14 points from junior Amber Wessells (Montclair, NJ). Sophomore Cherkira Lashley (Brooklyn, NY) finished with seven rebounds for the Cardinals, who have lost three straight.

The teams were tied 5-5 three minutes into the game, but the remainder of the first half was all Tufts. Over the next 12 minutes, the Jumbos out-scored the Cardinals 22-3 to take control of the game. Foley had eight points during the run and Kate Barnosky (Huntington Station, NY) scored six as the Jumbos took a 27-8 lead with 5:33 to go until halftime.

Tufts led 39-14 at intermission. They shot 62.5 percent (15/24) in the first half and were led by Foley's 15 points. Wessells had eight for Wesleyan, who shot just 20 percent (5/25) in the period.

The Jumbo lead did not dip below 25 in the second half. It touched 30 (50-20) on a layup by senior co-captain Bre Dufault (Hampden, MA) with 14:54 remaining. The final margin of 44 points was the largest of the game as a young Tufts line-up performed well. First-year Melissa Blotner (Newton, MA) hit a three-pointer and classmate Hannah Artner (Westborough, MA) scored her first collegiate basket in the final minutes for Tufts.

Barnosky added 11 points, five rebounds, and three steals to the Jumbo win. Sophomore Hayley Kanner (Scarsdale, NY) blocked six shots and also led with three assists. First-year point guard Michelle Wu (Monroe, CT) had six points in seven minutes off the bench.

Senior captain Kendra Harris (St. Paul, MN) finished with eight pionts and six rebounds for Wesleyan. Sophomore Dreisen Heath (New Haven, CT) contributed six points and six rebounds.

Both teams return to conference place tomorrow. Tufts hosts Connecticut College at 4 pm, while Wesleyan is at Bates for a 4 pm start.

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