MEDFORD, Mass. -- The Brandeis University women's basketball team never trailed in the second half today as four different players - one from each class - scored in double figures to lead the Judges to an 81-76 upset win over 16th-ranked Tufts in their first road game of the season.
The Judges were paced by senior Lauren Orlando (Peabody, Mass./Peabody), who tallied 20 points on 6-of-11 from the field and 8-of-10 from the line, tying for game-high honors. Junior guard Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lime) added 19 points, connecting on 7-of-12 overall and 3-of-7 from 3-point range. The Judges also got career scoring highs from sophomore guard Diana Cincotta (W. Boylston, Mass./W. Boylston) and rookie Morgan Kendrew (Cotuit, Mass./Barnstable), who had 10 points each. Both Cincotta and Kendrew contributed two 3-pointers. Cincotta also led the Judges with five assists.
After a first half that featured eight ties and nine lead changes and saw the game tied, 34-34, the Judges settled down. With a 42-40 lead with 16:22 on the clock, Chapin and Cincotta connected on back-to-back trifectas to extend the lead to eight, 48-40. The Jumbos clawed back and eventually tied the score at 63-63 on a lay-up by Katie Tausanovich with 5:13 remaining. Brandeis answered with six straight points on their next two possessions. Senior co-captain Cassidy Dadaos (Healdsburg, Calif./Healdsburg) converted a traditional three-point play after an Amanda Wells (Loudon, N.H./Merrimack Valley) offensive rebound, and Kendrew drained a 3-pointer after a Chapin steal to put the Judges back up, 69-63 with 4:39 on the clock. Brandeis was able to hang on to the victory by hitting 8-of-10 from the line down the stretch.
Tufts also put four players in double figures, led by 20 points from Tausanovich. Julia Baily added 12 points, while Kim Moynihan had 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. Colleen Hart finished two assists shy of a double-double for the Jumbos with 10 points and eight helpers.
Brandeis improved to 5-0 in their road contest of the season, earning their second win over a nationally-ranked team. The Judges previously dispatched Tufts' fellow NESCAC squad Bowdoin, 71-44, in the Brandeis Tip-Off tournament.