Teams: Women's Basketball: Schedule & Results

COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Williams 63, Tufts 46

At Williamstown, MA
Saturday, February 9, 2008

Game Statistics

Khalilah Ummah recorded her sixth double-double of the year, but it wasn't enough for the Jumbos

WILLIAMSTOWN -- In a physical battle from the opening whistle, the Williams College women's basketball team (16-6, 5-2) used their best defensive effort of the season to knock off the 14th ranked Tufts Jumbos (19-2, 5-2) on Saturday, 63-46. The Ephs kept the visiting Jumbos to a mere 22.5 shooting percentage (6/27) from the floor in the first frame, and limited Tufts to just five points in the first ten minutes on the court.

On Seniors Day, the Ephs used some much-needed emotion and adrenaline following a disappointing loss to Bates last night. With two players just one-point shy of having all starters in double-digits, a balanced offensive front coupled with stifling defensive pressure was the recipe for success for Williams. The Ephs opened play on a 7-0 run, and kept Tufts scoreless for the first 5:40.

Williams only shot 33.3 percent (9/27) from the floor in the first period, preventing them from building much of a lead. The Jumbos narrowed the score to 12-9 with 6:34 to play before Williams pulled ahead by seven at the half, 22-15, off a pull-up jumper by Mika Peterman with two seconds on the clock.

The home team was able to build upon its lead in the second half. Two wide-open, three-point shots from Chessie Jackson expanded Williams' advantage to 14 points at the half-way point of the second half. Tufts committed their seventh foul with 7:36 to play, sending the Ephs into the bonus. Williams would finish the game with a 15 of 20 (75 percent) effort from the charity stripe.

Williams reached a 20-point lead off a transition play. Peterman stole the ball before launching a deep pass to Niki Savageau. Savageau dished the ball to Taylor Shea on a bounce pass and she easily laid the ball in for a 51-31 lead. Tufts would come within 14 at one point, but Williams lead proved insurmountable.

The Ephs starters combined for 63 of their 66 total points. Shea recorded her third straight double-double with 16 points and 10 boards. Jackson contributed 15 points, while Peterman added 11 points and 5 boards. Savageau and Dominique de la Torre tallied 9 points on their Senior Day, with de la Torre grabbing team-high 11 boards.

Senior co-captain Khalilah Ummah (Litchfield, ME) led Tufts with 13 points and 14 rebounds. First-year guard Colleen Hart (Needham, MA) and junior Kim Moynihan (West Hartford, CT) followed Ummah with 10 and 8 points, respectively.

With five teams owning records of 5-2 or better in the NESCAC standings, the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament is still up for grabs. The Jumbos, who tied a school record with their 19th win on Friday at Middlebury, host a huge game against first-place Bowdoin (6-1) next Friday at Cousens Gym. Williams will play at Connecticut College that night.

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