Teams: Women's Basketball: Schedule & Results

JUMBOS HAND LADY VIKINGS FIRST LOSS OF SEASON

COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Tufts 61    Salem State 43

At Salem, MA
Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Game Statistics

SALEM -- The nationally-ranked and previously undefeated Salem State College Lady Vikings watched an early 4-4 tie turn into a 25-10 run for the Jumbos of Tufts University prior to intermission and then watched the visitors pull away in the second half for a 61-43 non-conference victory at the James Twohig Gymnasium. The victory against the traditionally strong Salem State program stands as one of the best during Tufts coach Carla Berube's five-year tenure.

The 2006-07 Salem State women's basketball team will look to extend the program's NCAA Division 3 national tournament appearance record to 24 this season. They may very well do so, but on this night a Tufts team that was 10-13 last year and is looking to establish itself again was the better team. SSC, ranked No. 18 in this week's D3hoops.com poll and No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today poll, committed 18 first half turnovers en route to a season-high 29.  The unranked Jumbos (4-1) let the Lady Vikings (5-1) get no closer than nine points in the second half (41-32) with 10:21 to play on way to their 18-point decision. Tufts went on a 25-10 run to finish the first half with a 29-14 advantage.

Tufts was led by senior guard Valerie Krah's (Mountain Lakes, NJ) 15 points and junior guard Jenna Gomez's (Norfolk, MA) 14 points. Junior forward Khalilah Ummah (Litchfield, ME) added a game-high 10 boards for the Jumbos, who won their fourth straight after a season-opening loss. Gomez and senior guard Taryn Miller-Stevens (Avon, CT) had five steals each for Tufts. SSC shot just 6 for 20 from the field in the opening half, yet out-rebounded the visitors, 19-13.  For the game, the Jumbos out-rebounded the Lady Vikings, 43-35.

Junior forward Lindsey Watkins (Wareham, MA) and freshman center Danielle Jenkins (Marlborough, MA) scored just four first-half points each for the Lady Vikings.  Junior guard Melissa Macchi (Peabody, MA) finished with a game-high 11 points for SSC, while Watkins ended with nine and Jenkins with six.  Jenkins and senior guard Shannon Murphy (Lynn) topped SSC rebounders with nine apiece.

Tufts next game will be Thursday when the Jumbos host Simmons College in their home opener at Cousens Gym at 7:00 pm. SSC's next game will be at Gordon College on Saturday at 1:00 pm.

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