Release courtesy of NYU Athletics

Leading by only five at halftime, the #2-ranked New York University women's basketball team outscored host Tufts University 18-7 in the third quarter and went on to a 74-54 victory over the #13-ranked Jumbos.

The Violets led 40-35 at halftime, but Tufts scored the first five points of the third quarter to knot the game at 40-40.

However, NYU scored the next six points and only allowed one basket the rest of the quarter to take control of the game. 

NYU's dominance continued into the final quarter as the Violets opened with a 7-0 run to take a game-high 23-point lead.

The Jumbos never got closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

NYU owned the battle of the boards 46-34, with three Violets reaching double-digits in rebounding. Both Jenny Walker and Belle Pellecchia finished with 11, while Natalie Bruns had 10.

Walker scored a game-high 23 points, with Bruns adding 17.

Pellecchia totaled a team-high five assists while adding three steals.

The 8-0 Violets return to action when they host the NYU Holiday Classic on Thursday and Friday, December 29-30, at the Brooklyn Athletic Facility.