NO. 4 TUFTS DOWNS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, 66-56

Medford, Mass. – The Tufts University women's basketball team improved to 15-0 in their 66-56 win over Emmanuel College Wednesday night at Cousens Gym. Freshman Michela North (Duxbury, MA) came off the bench and was the leading scorer for the Jumbos with 14 points, five rebounds and was 8-8 from the free throw line.

Sophomore Emma Roberson (Arlington, MA) scored 12 points while Kelsey Morehead (Foster City, PA), Caitline McClure (Arlington, VA) and Hannah Foley (Acton, MA) each added eight points for Tufts who ranked fourth overall in the most recent D3Hoops.com national poll.

The Saints fall to10-6 and was led by junior forward Lena Negri's (Arlington, Va.) double-double of 26 points and 10 boards. 

Down 4-0, the Jumbos hit back-to-back three pointers by Morehead and Caitlin McClure to start a 13-2 run over the next four minutes that would give them a 13-5 advantage at the 14:23 mark. After that lead, the Saints would only come as close as five points when Jasmine Burwell grabbed a rebound and took it the length of the court for a layup with 11:23 remaining. Sophomore Emma Roberson's (Arlington, MA) jumper pushed the Tufts lead to 11 to go into halftime up 35-24.

With an 8-6 lead at the 15:07 mark, the Jumbos (14-0, 3-0 NESCAC) used a 13-2 run over the next six minutes as six different Tufts players scoring in that span for a 21-8 cushion at 8:51. A jumper by sophomore Emma Roberson (Arlington, MA) with five seconds remaining in the opening half gave the home team their largest lead of 14 going into halftime 37-23. 

The Jumbos would go on a 7-0 run early in the second half for a 49-30 lead at 13:34 thanks to free throws by North, a three-pointer by Liz Moynihan (Storrs, CT) and a jumper by Ali Rocchi (Fairfield, CT).

However, the Saints would not go away and went on a run on their own late in the second half sparked by Negri to pull within 10 points (60-50) with 2:16 left in the game on Sara Higgins' layup. That is as close as they would get as the Jumbos would convert free throws at the end to solidify the 66-56 victory.

Tufts will host NESCAC opponent Bates Saturday at 2 pm. Emmanuel is on the road at Mount Ida Saturday at 1 pm.

*Release provided courtesy of Tufts University Sports Information Dept.