On Feb. 15, the Tufts University women's basketball team played Bowdoin in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) final. The game, which was held at the university's own Cousens Gymnasium, ended with a final score of 92-54, the most points scored by the team in one game since 2008. The win culminated an impressive performance by players such as senior Liz Moynihan, who finished with 20 points and five assists, junior Hayley Kanner with 15 points, five rebounds and three blocks and three other members of the team, who scored in the double digits. The Jumbos, who had secured their spot as the No. 1 seed in NESCAC just the day before, completed their first ever perfect NESCAC season with a record of 10-0.
If you haven't heard about the women's basketball team and all of its success this season (their dominating win against Bowdoin is just one of many victories), you are, unfortunately, not alone. These players' accomplishments, along with those of many other Tufts sports teams, have often received a sad showing of support and an overall lack of recognition from the larger student body. Indeed, the bleachers at the women's basketball games are nowhere near as crowded as they should be, especially for a team that has won 24 of its last 25 games.
This coming weekend, Tufts will be hosting the conference semi-final and final games. Attendance to these games, which are the most important of the season and are being held at our own home court, is free for anyone with a student ID. And if this isn't enough incentive to go, remember that, as members of the student body, our fellow students and friends will be playing: We should make a point to venture down to Cousens Gymnasium to watch them do what they do best.
No, Tufts is not particularly well known for its sports scene, but when any Jumbos are doing well, we should be paying attention. It's easy to fall into the habit of honing in on our sports teams' shortcomings, but it's time to step up our own game, have a little school spirit and offer our support to our teams and peers who are dominating on their playing fields.
