MEDFORD – In a match-up of the top two defensive teams in the country, the Tufts women's basketball team held Castleton to 23.5 percent shooting (12/51) and earned a 55-35 victory over the Spartans in the NCAA Div. III Championship third round on Friday night at Cousens Gym.
For the second time in team history, Tufts advances to the NCAA "Elite 8" and will play Ithaca tomorrow in the national quarterfinals at Cousens starting at 5 pm. The Bombers were 74-71 winners over Amherst in tonight's other NCAA third-round game at Cousens. Saturday's winner advances to the NCAA "Final Four" in Stevens Point, Wisconsin next Friday (Mar. 21).
The Jumbos (29-1) were led tonight by 14 points and seven rebounds from first-year Michela North, who was nearly unstoppable in the paint making five of six shots and hitting four for four on free throws. She was joined in the post by junior Hayley Kanner, who added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
Castleton (27-4) saw its Cinderella run into the NCAA "Sweet 16" end tonight. The Spartans got 11 points, a game-high eight rebounds and three assists from senior Liz Douglass.
The game was never in doubt as Tufts scored the first nine points, five by Kanner and four from senior tri-captain Ali Rocchi. Castleton got its first bucket on a Douglass jumper at 15:46 of the first half.
Tufts soon had the margin in double-digits as a Rocchi jumper made it 13-3 at the 12:29 mark. She would end up scoring her most points in a game since January 2011 with 12 to go with six rebounds.
The Jumbo advantage surpassed 20 at the three-minute mark of the opening half when a lay-up by Kanner made it 30-9. Tufts led 32-15 at the break, with North totaling 10 points and six rebounds in 11 minutes played. Douglass had six points to lead Castleton at intermission.
The Tufts lead peaked at 27 (50-23) at 10:49 of the second half on a jumper by Rocchi. Castleton out-scored Tufts 12-5 from there, including a three-pointer from senior Alyssa Leonard. The Jumbos finished with just a three-point advantage in second-half scoring (23-20).
Entering the game, Castleton was #1 in the nation in scoring defense (46.3 ppg) and Tufts was second at 49 ppg. The Jumbos had the better defense tonight, holding Castleton to the third-lowest point total against Tufts this year. The Spartans' 23.5 shooting percentage was the lowest Tufts has allowed this season.
Tufts was +17 in rebounds (47-30), with six players accumulating five or more. They had 15 offensive rebounds and out-scored Castleton 14-2 on second-chance points. Tufts finished with 16 assists on 22 baskets, led by five from junior point guard Kelsey Morehead.
Senior Shelby LaBarge scored six points off the bench for Castleton, while junior Jade Desroches finished with five points and six rebounds.
The 2013-14 Jumbos join the 2007-08 team as Tufts squads who advanced to the NCAA "Elite 8." Tomorrow this year's team will look to become the first Jumbo team to move on to the "Final Four."
#