MEDFORD - The fifth-ranked Tufts women's basketball team outscored visiting Bates College 51-16 in the second half and posted an 83-37 win over the Bobcats in NESCAC action Saturday afternoon at Cousens Gym.

Maura Folliard was one of 11 Jumbos who scored points in the game

Leading 32-21 at the half, Tufts shot 62.1 percent (18/29) in the second half while holding Bates to 19.2 percent (5/26). The Jumbos, led by 19 points from sophomore Michela North, improved to 16-1 overall and 4-0 in the league. The win was Tufts' 18th in a row against a NESCAC opponent.

Bates, led by 15 points from first-year Nina Davenport, dropped to 9-8 and 0-4 in the conference. The loss was the Bobcats' fourth straight.

Tufts built an early 14-3 lead as North, Kanner and first-year Melissa Baptista combined on the points. Bates hung in there and twice narrowed the margin to seven, including 22-15 on a jumper by sophomore Allie Coppola near the six-minute mark.

The Jumbos stretched the margin to 32-21 at intermission. North with 11 points and Baptista with nine led Tufts at the half. Davenport scored more than half her team's points in the opening 20 minutes with 11.

Davenport's jumper at 18:26 of the second half had Bates within 12 at 35-23. However, the Jumbos went on a 19-2 run over the next five minutes to lead 54-25 with 13 minutes remaining in regulation. North and Kanner both had six points during the stretch.

Tufts' lead didn't go below 27 points from there. The Jumbos held Bates to just six points in the final 10 minutes and are now allowing just 40.5 points per game to league oponents.

The Jumbos finished the game with a +32 margin in rebounds (53-21) though no player had more than seven. Senior tri-captain Hannah Foley had the seven, while North, Kanner and sophomore guard Josie Lee all had six.

Kanner and Baptista both scored 15 points in the game as Tufts shot 53.3 percent (32/60) overall.  Junior Maura Folliard pitched in eight points off the bench. First-year point guard Lauren Dillon recorded six assists and Baptisa had three of Tufts' nine blocks.

Today marked the second time this season Tufts topped 80 points offensively. The 37 allowed tied for the third-lowest of the year.

Davenport and Coppola led Bates with five rebounds each while sophomore Bernadette Connors finished with six points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Tufts is off until next Friday when they travel to Connecticut College for a 7 pm conference tilt. Bates has mid-week non-conference action at St. Joseph's (ME) on Wednesday at 7.

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