WILLIAMS SURGES PAST JUMBOS IN SECOND HALF FOR 60-53 VICTORY
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Williams 60 Tufts 53
At Williamstown, MA
Friday, January 20, 2006
WILLIAMSTOWN - Leading by two at halftime, the Tufts University women's basketball team fell back quick in the second half and couldn't recovering, suffering a 60-53 loss at Williams in NESCAC play on Friday night.
Tufts led 19-17 after a first half dominated by defense. William's Meghan O'Malley opened the second half with a jumper at 19:38 to tie the score at 19-19. The teams went back and fourth over the next two minutes, then the host Ephs scored the next 12 points to take control. They led 34-23 at 13:18 following a jumper by Colleen Hession, who had eight points during the run including two three-pointers.
Tufts cut it to six points (36-30) on a jumper by sophomore Jenna Gomez (Norfolk, MA) at 10:25, but that is as close as they got. Williams never totally pulled away, leading by 13 on a few occasions. Tufts was within single digits several times during the final five minutes. However, the Ephs - led by Hession - were money at the free throw line in the final 70 seconds to cap the victory.
Williams improved to 14-3 overall and 2-1 in the NESCAC. They were led by 17 points from Hession, 16 by Maggie MIller and 15 from O'Malley. Miller led the Ephs with eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Tufts was topped by junior Laura Jasinski (Leverett, MA) with 12 points. She was one of four Jumbos with five rebounds. Senior Jessica Powers (Massapequa, NY) added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Khalilah Ummah (Litchfield, ME) continued to develop under the hoop, scoring eight points with five rebounds in 19 minutes. The loss dropped Tufts to 7-8 overall, the first time they have been below .500 since losing the 2002-03 season opener. The Jumbos are 1-2 in NESCAC.
Williams out-scored the Jumbos 22-13 at the foul line.
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