COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Bowdoin 58
Tufts 45
At Medford
Friday, February 6, 2004
MEDFORD – Visiting Bowdoin College, the #1 team in the nation, improved to 20-0 with a 58-45 victory at Tufts University in NESCAC women's basketball action on Friday night at Cousens Gymnasium.
The Polar Bears (7-0 NESCAC), who are the only unbeaten team in the country, took over in the second half and were led by 13 points and five assists from senior co-captain Lora Trenkle (Surry, ME). Tufts (13-5, 4-2 NESCAC), which lost for the first time at home this season, was led by 10 points from freshman guard Jenny Muller (Andover, MA).
In the biggest women's basketball game played at Tufts in over a decade, both teams started slow. Tufts senior tri-captain Erin Buckley's (East Sandwich, MA) free throw at 17:13 was the game's first point, and it would represent Tufts' only lead. Five minutes into the first half, Bowdoin led 9-1. The Jumbos did not score their first field goal until a lay-up by freshman Taryn Miller-Stevens (Avon, CT) at 14:31.
The Polar Bears twice opened up 11-point margins in the first half, including 24-13 on a jumper by freshman Eileen Flaherty (Fairfield, CT) at 6:14. Playing in front of a big home crowd, Tufts settled its nerves as the half wore on. They used a 10-3 run capped by a jumper from sophomore guard Jessica Powers (Massapequa, NY) to slice the Bowdon lead to 27-23 at the 2:00 mark. The score was 29-25 at the half, with Flaherty's eight points and Powers' six leading their respective squads.
In the second half, a jumper by Tufts senior tri-captain Maritsa Christoudias (Saddle River, NJ) pulled the Jumbos within five, 38-33, at 15:17. However, Tufts would score just two points over the next seven minutes. Bowdoin mounted a 21-point lead, 51-30, on a lay-up by sophomore forward Justine Pouravelis (Old Orchard Beach, ME) at 8:24 that ended an 18-2 run. Led by seven points from Trenkle, the stretch essentially put the game away.
The Polar Bears held Tufts to 20 percent shooting (6/30) in the second half and dominated the boards in the half, 30-13. Pouravelis would finish with six points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Flaherty pitched in eight points and five rebounds.
Tufts, which finished at 28.8 percent shooting (17/59) for the game, got nine points, six rebounds and five steals from Christoudias. Junior forward Allison Love (Duxbury, MA) added six points and 10 rebounds.
The victory was the ninth straight in the series for Bowdoin over Tufts.
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