COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Tufts 65
Colby 46
At Medford
Saturday, February 7, 2004
MEDFORD – Sophomore guard Jessica Powers (Massapequa, NY) poured in 23 points, and the Tufts defense forced Colby into 26.6 percent (17/64) shooting, as the Jumbos posted a 65-46 victory over the Mules in NESCAC women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.
Powers connected on nine of 16 shots and added six assists and four steals to lead Tufts, which improved to 14-5 overall and 5-2 in the conference. Colby (9-14, 2-6), which lost its fifth straight game, got 15 points and eight rebounds from junior Wendy Bonner (Lexington, MA).
Tufts took the lead for good at 11-10 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Julia Verplank (Zeeland, MI) at 14:01 of the first half. Colby was within two, 25-23, after a Bonner three-point play at 4:25. From there, Tufts scored 10 of the next 12 points and led by 10, 35-25, on a lay-up by freshman Jenny Muller (Andover, MA) in the final minute of the half. The Jumbos were up 35-27 at the break, with 13 points from Powers leading the way. Bonner had seven for the Mules.
Visiting Colby didn't go away and pulled to within six, 38-32, on a lay-up by Bonner at 14:54 of the second half. But Tufts scored the next 10 points, six by Powers, to lead 48-32 at the 11:00 mark. Colby wouldn't get closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
The Jumbos held the Mules to just 19.4 percent (6/31) shooting in the second half. In the meantime, Tufts was shooting 52 percent (13/25) in the half. The Jumbos used great ball movement, accumulating 20 assists on 26 baskets in the game. Verplank had five to go with nine points.
Colby won the battle of the boards, 44-41. Emery assisted Bonner in that effort with nine rebounds. Freshman guard Laura Williamson (Manchester, CT) had 11 points and five assists for the Mules, but also nine turnovers.
It was Seniors' Day at Cousens Gym, as the Jumbos saluted tri-captains Erin Buckley (East Sandwich, MA), Maritsa Christoudias (Saddle River, NJ) and Kate Gluckman (Morrisville, VT). The team improved to 8-1 at Cousens with the win. It also stopped a nine-game losing streak in their series against Colby.
#