Women's Basketball Falls to #7 Tufts, 75-55

MEDFORD, Mass. – Junior guard Hannah Foley's (Acton, Mass.) 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists led the undefeated and nationally ranked Tufts University women's basketball team to a 75-55 non-conference win over visiting Bridgewater State University on Tuesday night at Cousens Gym.

The host Jumbos, ranked seventh in both the D3hoops.com and WBCA/USA Today polls, improved to 11-0 on the season with the win.

Senior guard Elisha Homich (Ludlow, Mass.) was the leading scorer with 12 points for the Bears who fell to 5-6 on the season. Homich also notched four assists and a career-high eight steals.  Senior center Tatyana Belizaire (Cambridge, Mass.) added 10 points and pulled down five boards, while senior guard Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) chipped in nine points, four rebounds and four assists.

Freshman forward Michela North (Duxbury, Mass.) came off the bench and went 6-6 from the field for 12 points and four rebounds. Junior forward Ali Berman (Fairfield, Conn.) scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds while junior center Hayley Kanner (Scarsdale, N.Y.) added 10 points.

Both teams were tied at 4-4 until Foley sparked the Jumbos with a three-pointer, a jumper and another trey to give her team a 12-6 lead with 11:54 remaining. The Bears responded with a three-pointer and layup from junior guard Melissa Daigle (Rockland, Mass.) to trim the lead to three points.

With a 19-15 advantage at the 6:21 mark, the Jumbos would go on a 17-4 run over the next six minutes sparked by Foley's 10 points. Tufts went into the locker-room with a 36-21 halftime lead. Foley hit five three-pointers in the first half.

The Jumbos came out hot in the second half as they went on a 12-5 run over the first three minutes. Junior guard Kelsey Morehead (Foster City, Pa.) hit two treys in that span and Kanner and Berman each added a layup for a 46-23 lead at the 17:37 mark.  Tufts largest lead of the night came with 6:47 remaining in the game when Foley's jumper put her team up 27 with the score at 69-42.

The Jumbos shot 50% (31-62) from three-point range and outrebounded the Bears 39-27. Tufts aggressive defense forced 21 turnovers and limited Bridgewater to 25% (3-12) shooting from behind the arc.

The Jumbos open NESCAC play at Middlebury Sunday at 2 pm.  The Bears host MCLA Thursday at 5:30 pm. in the MASCAC opener for both teams.