As junior guard Hannah Foley went to the line to shoot two free throws, all memory of last year's quarterfinal loss to Bowdoin was erased. The women's basketball team routed Wesleyan 74-46 this past weekend, keeping their bid for their first ever NESCAC Championship alive.
Foley, who is averaging 10.3 points per game this season, scored 24 points on 8 of 16 shooting, going 4 of 8 from behind the arc. The Jumbos' perimeter shooting was on full display this past weekend, with the team going 5 of 10 from 3-point range in the second half, extending a 13-point halftime lead to 28 points by the final buzzer.
Whenever the score became close, Foley and fellow junior Hayley Kanner, the team's offensive leaders, stepped up, igniting the Jumbos' attack in both halves of the game. Kanner scored nine of her 11 points in the first half, and Foley scored 17 of her 24 in the second. Kanner, who is leading the team with 11.7 points per game this season, and Foley scored the first eight points of the game for Tufts.
Initially, both teams had difficulty establishing any offensive rhythm, with the Jumbos missing six of their first eight shots and the Cardinals missing five of their first seven. Seven and a half minutes into the game, the Jumbos increased their pace on the offensive end. They continuously shifted the Cardinals' zone defense with quick, accurate passes to find an open teammate, outscoring the Cardinals 22-10 to end the half with a 30-17 lead.
After halftime, however, shots started falling on both sides. After a Wesleyan basket on the first possession of the second half, Tufts sparked a 16-6 run, bringing the score to 46-23 with 13:15 left in the game. Despite shooting 50 percent from the field (11 of 22) in the second half, the Cardinals didn't come closer than 21 points for the rest of the game.
"The stops that we got on the defensive end really propelled us further on the offensive end," Foley said. "I think that we've shown what we can do offensively in a few games, but it's clear that [good offense] happens when our defense is at its best."
Up against a strong and physical Wesleyan team, which included 6'2" freshman Brenna Diggins and 6' sophomore Kaylie Williams, Tufts out-rebounded their bigger opponents 38-26. The Jumbos benefitted from numerous second chance opportunities on offense, as they notched nearly twice as many offensive rebounds as the Cardinals, 13-7.
"When the forwards are focused on boxing out strong rebounders, the guards have to get the ball, and I think we've been working on that in practice, so we did a good job today," Foley said. "We focused on good ball pressure, making [Wesleyan] make bad passes and just putting a hand in their face, contesting their shots."
Led by junior point guard Kelsey Morehead's six assists, Tufts racked up 17 assists in the game compared to just two assists for Wesleyan - a testament to the team's commitment to unselfish play. Of the seven players who recorded 18 or more minutes of play, all contributed to the scoring total of the night.
The Cardinals were led by senior tri-captain Jenna Klaes' 12 points, but were hurt by a mediocre performance from senior tri-captain KellyAnn Rooney, who scored just six points and dished out one assist in 34 minutes of play. Rooney, who was leading the team with 9.4 points scored per game this season, took just five shots against the Jumbos.
As the team continues their postseason campaign this weekend, the leadership of senior tri-captains Liz Moynihan, Ali Rocchi and Caitlyn McClure will play a large role, as all three surely remember last year's first-round loss in the playoffs.
"We try not to think about the past, but there were a lot [of memories] going into the game," Rocchi said. "We [as captains] like to provide what the team needs - whether it's energy [or] focus. Whatever they need as a team, that's what we're there for."
After finishing the regular season as the No. 1 seed in the NESCAC, the Jumbos will host the conference semi-finals and finals this upcoming weekend. Tufts will play fourth-seeded Trinity on Saturday at 2 p.m., while second and third seeds Amherst and Bowdoin will play after them at 4 p.m. The conference finals are set to take place on Sunday at noon.
"Postseason is a whole different season," Rocchi said. "What we've accomplished so far this year has been great, but it's not something that we want to rest on. The stakes are definitely higher, [and] it can be one game and you're done. [There's] definitely a little more pressure, which makes it a little more exciting and a little more fun."
