MEDFORD - Junior Michela North scored 17 points on 8 for 12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds as the 12th-ranked Tufts Women's Basketball team defeated Hamilton College 66-39 in NESCAC action Saturday afternoon at Cousens Gym.
The Jumbos have now won eight in a row to improve to 13-2 overall and 4-0 in the league. Hamilton has dropped seven of its last eight games and stands at 5-10 overall and 1-3 in NESCAC.
Tufts scored 19 points in the first quarter to lead by 12 (19-7). The Continentals scored the first basket of the game on a lay-up by senior Sam Graber and led 5-4 early on a three by freshman Halie Serbent. However, Tufts closed the quarter on a 15-2 run, with North finishing the period with eight points. The Jumbos had 11 points off eight Continental turnovers in the first.
A three-pointer by freshman Claire Hebb followed by Serbent's jumper pulled Hamilton within 25-16 at 4:25 of the second quarter. A three-pointer by freshman Jacqueline Knapp started a 9-0 Tufts run though, giving the hosts a 34-16 advantage late in the period.
The Jumbos were up 34-18 at the half. North had 11 points and five rebounds at the break for Tufts while Serbent's seven led Hamilton. The Jumbos made five three-pointers in the half, including two by Knapp. Lauren Dillon for Tufts and Kendall Rallins from Hamilton both had four first-half assists.
The Continentals twice got within 13 in the third quarter, including 43-30 on a three-pointer by sophomore Lauren Getman at 3:26. Tufts scored nine of the final 11 points in the period though, with four from senior Maura Folliard, and the hosts led 52-32 heading into the fourth.
The 27-point final margin would be the Jumbos' largest of the game. The Tufts defense held an opponent under 40 points for the second straight game, including last night's 57-37 NESCAC win over Middlebury. It was the fourth time this season Tufts has kept an opponent under 40.
Senior tri-captain Emma Roberson finished with nine points and five rebounds for the Jumbos, who hit nine three-pointers overall. Sophomore Melissa Baptista and Knapp also scored nine points, with Baptista adding five assists and three steals, and Knapp contributing six rebounds and four assists. Senior tri-captain Nicole Brooks had eight points, five assists and four rebounds.
The Jumbos had tremendous ball movement with 23 assists on 25 field goals, led by sophomore Lauren Dillon's six. Tufts turned the ball over just six times and Hamilton did not have a steal in the game.
Getman paced Hamilton with 10 points and nine rebounds. Graber, Serbent and senior Carly Gruenberg all had seven points for the visitors. Graber and Serbent both pulled in four rebounds.
Tufts will host another NESCAC weekend starting with Wesleyan on Friday at 7 pm. Hamilton is off until hosting Williams in conference action next Friday at 7.
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