JUMBOS SECURE SPOT IN NESCAC TOURNEY WITH WIN AT AMHERST
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Tufts 76 Amherst 67
At Amherst, MA
Saturday, February 15, 2005
AMHERST – The Tufts University women's basketball team closed its NESCAC regular-season slate with a 76-67 victory over host Amherst College on Saturday, securing a spot in the conference tournament. The Jumbos (14-9, 3-6) earned the #7 seed in the tournament and will play at #2 Bates College next Saturday (Feb. 19) at 4:00.
Amherst fell to 13-10 overall and 4-5 in conference play. Despite the setback, the Jeffs earned the #5 seed in the eight-team NESCAC Championship Tournament and will open post-season play Saturday at 3:00 at fourth-seeded Wesleyan University.
Tufts jumped out to a 15-2 advantage and led the entire way on Saturday. Junior Julia Verplank (Zeeland, MI) poured in seven points during the early run and was one of five Tufts starters in double figures with a final total of 10 points. Tufts senior Allison Love (Duxbury, MA) led all scorers with 22 points, followed by sophomore Laura Jasinski (Leverett, MA) with 18 and junior Jessica Powers (Massapequa, NY) and sophomore Taryn Miller-Stevens (Avon, CT) with 11 each. Jasinski pulled down 10 rebounds and Powers finished with four assists and three steals.
Amherst placed four players in double figures, led by junior co-captain Krissy Morin's (Litchfield, NH) 17 points. She was followed in the scoring column by fellow junior Katie Latham (Wakefield, MA) and rookie Shaina Pollack (Great Neck, NY) with 12 apiece, while first-year Matia Kostakis (Andover, MA) added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Tufts has now won five of its last six to build some momentum heading into the tournament. However, Bates College is the #1 team in the nation this week according to D3Hoops.com despite their #2 seed in the NESCACs.
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