Teams: Women's Basketball: Schedule & Results

COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Brandeis 81, Tufts 76

At Medford, MA
Sunday, November 30, 2008

Game Statistics

Senior Katie Tausanovitch had 14 of her team-high 20 points in the second half

MEDFORD -- Senior forward Lauren Orlando (Peabody, MA) scored 20 points and junior guard Jessica Chapin (Mendon, NY) added 19 to lead the Brandeis University women's basketball team to a tightly-contested 81-76 victory at Tufts University in an early-season battle between unbeaten teams on Sunday afternoon.

Brandeis improved to 5-0 overall, as Orlando's two free throws with 10 seconds remaining in the second half finally decided the outcome. She would score 16 in the second half for the Judges while Chapin tallied 13. Tufts (3-1), ranked #16 in the preseason D3Hoops.com poll, got 20 points from senior Katie Tausanovitch (Lyme, NH) and an energetic all-around effort from senior co-captain Kim Moynihan (West Hartford, CT), who finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Tausanovitch had 14 in the second half for the Jumbos.

The teams were tied 34-34 at halftime. Three lay-ups by Orlando and three-pointers by Chapin and sophomore Diana Cincotta (West Boylston, MA) gave Brandeis a 48-40 margin with 15:24 on the clock. They would never trail again, but the eight-point difference was as large as their lead would get.

After Tufts cut it to two points (50-48) with a three-pointer by Moynihan at 11:17, Brandeis scored the next five points to lead 55-48 on another three by Chapin at 10:05. Tausanovitch, meanwhile, was helping to keep Tufts close with her offensive work under the hoop. Her lay-up after a Brandeis offensive foul made it 55-52 with 8:42 remaining.

A lay-up by Orlando (6-11 FGs) and two free throws by Chapin had the Judges up 62-55 at the seven-minute mark, but Tufts rallied with six straight points. Two driving lay-ups by sophomore guard Colleen Hart (Needham, MA) pulled the hosts to within 62-61 at 5:52. Tausanovitch's lay-up 34 seconds later tied the score at 63-63.

Brandeis continued to be able to answer Tufts in the second half, running off the next six points for a 69-63 advantage on a three by first-year Morgan Kendrew (Cotuit, MA). A three-point play by junior Julia Baily (Farmington, CT) had the Jumbos within three (69-66) again, but four unanswered free throws by Orlando (8-11 on the day) gave Brandeis a 73-66 lead with 3:26 remaining. Junior Casey Sullivan (Berlin, CT) hit a three for Tufts and Chapin's jumper at 2:48 for Brandeis had their lead at 75-69. The Jumbos were unable to take advantage of two offensive rebounds at the other end, but a Brandeis turnover and a Tausanovitch lay-up pulled Tufts to within 75-71. Brandeis again responded, with two free throws by Orlando giving them a 77-71 lead entering the final minute.

The Judges went a little cold at the line down the stretch, but Tufts was largely unable to capitalize. A three-pointer by Hart had Tufts within 79-76 with 12 seconds remaining, but the two clutch free throws by Orlando with 10 seconds remaining, and then a Tufts miss on a three-pointer that Orlando rebounded, sealed the game.

Cincotta added 10 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals to the Brandeis win. Kendrew also scored in double digits with 10. Chapin had three of 10 steals by the Judges. Brandeis was a solid 47.2 percent (25/53) from the field and finished with a distinct 24-15 advantage at the foul line for the game.

Baily (12 points, 7 rebounds) and Hart (10 points, 8 assists) aided the Jumbos cause, which included a 42-35 advantage in rebounds. The Jumbos were just 5 for 20 on three-point attempts.

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