The womens basketball team continued its hot start to the season, shutting down non-conference opponent Colby-Sawyer 74-33 in the teams home opener, improving to 3-0 and showing impressive versatility early in the year.
The contest was essentially over by the end of the first half, with the Jumbos building up a 22-point lead by halftime and the Chargers failing to establish any offensive rhythm throughout the game. Even though Tufts did not score in the first five minutes, the team still had an 11-1 lead with 13:26 to go in the period.
The second half was essentially a repeat of the first, as Colby-Sawyer finished the game shooting 24.4 percent from the field. Meanwhile, Tufts was led by junior center Hayley Kanner and her classmate guard Hannah Foley, who scored 12 and 10 points respectively, who controlled the pace of the play in the offensive end.
Kanner also posted four blocks, as the Chargers found it difficult to get into the paint all night long. Colby-Sawyer freshman guard Lexi Iannone put forth a valiant effort, scoring 10 points, but her play was mitigated by Tufts defensive performance. The Jumbos had 16 steals in the game, highlighting the defensive tenacity that has served the team well in all three games thus far this season.
Tufts has now beaten Colby-Sawyer in every one of its last seven matchups, a streak dating back to 2007. (The two teams did not regularly meet previously.) The Jumbos will play eight more non-conference games until their first NESCAC matchup of the year against Middlebury on Jan. 12.
Despite the lack of strong early competition, there are some advantages to beginning the year with so many matchups against regional, but non-conference, competition. For one, the conditioning of the players will naturally improve. But more importantly, it gives coach Carla Berube a chance to experiment with her starting lineup and player rotations.
In the Colby-Sawyer game, 14 players saw action for Tufts, with all but three playing at least 10 minutes and no player posting more than 22. The frequent substitutions may be partially to blame for the halting nature of Wednesdays game, but increased minutes will particularly help underclassmen on the team become more accustomed to the college game.
On Saturday, Tufts plays at Brandeis before beginning a four-game homestand with a matchup against Clark on Dec. 1. Last season, Tufts dominated Brandeis en route to a 70-32 win, so Tufts is once again a heavy favorite to continue the undefeated start to the year and improve to 4-0.
