WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis Women's Basketball team fell at Red Auerbach Arena to the Tufts Jumbos 59-44. Led by senior forward and captain Kate Barnosky (Huntington Station, N.Y./ Walt Whitman HS) who scored a game high 17 points, the Jumbos improved to 2-2 on the year. The Judges were led by junior forward Samantha Anderson (Johnsonville, N.Y./ Hoosic Valley) who finished with a career high 13 points along with five rebounds, and a block but it was not enough to stop Brandeis from falling to 3-3.
The first half was a back and forth affair punctuated by scoring runs from both teams. The Judges opened the game on a 6-0 run but the Jumbos roared back with a 9-2 run giving them the 9-8 lead with 12:43 left in the half following a wide open 3-pointer from sophomore guard Caitlin McClure (Arlington, Va./ National Cathedral School). The rest of the half was a back and forth affair with two ties and seven lead changes. Senior guard Morgan Kendrew (Cotuit, Mass./ Barnstable) brought Brandeis within two on her layup with 2:14 left in the half but the Jumbos finished the period with a 7-0 surge that gave them a 27-20 advantage at halftime.
The Jumbos kept a comfortable lead for the majority of the second half after going on a quick 5-0 run in the opening minutes. The Judges would get the lead down to four with 9:02 to play when Anderson punctuated a 6-0 run with a great move and finish in the middle of the lane. Still, Tufts would not relent and some clutch three pointers and free throws by McClure, junior guard Collier Clegg (Evanston, Ill./ Evanstown Township), and rookie point guard Kelsey Morehead (Foster City, Calif./ Pinewood) allowed them to pull away from the Judges and secure the victory.
Brandeis' second leading scorer on the day was rookie point guard Hannah Cain (Gloucester, Mass./ Gloucester) who had 10 points, tying a career high, to go along with two assists, a block, and six rebounds. Senior guard Kelly Ethier (Springfield, Mass./ Minnechaug Regional) tied Cain for the team lead with six rebounds to go with four points, two assists, a block, and a steal.
Complementing Barnosky, McClure was the Jumbos' second leading scorer with 12 points on two of three shooting from downtown to go with two steals and two rebounds. Senior guard Tiffany Kornegay (Carver, Mass./ Tabor Academy) was tied with Bornosky for a team leading three assists. Kornegay also led the team with six rebounds, while Morehead followed close behind with five, and three steals.
Brandeis women's basketball next travels to Emmanuel on Tuesday, November 29th with a 7:00 p.m. tip off. The Tufts Jumbos return home that same night to face Salem State, also with a 7:00 p.m. tip off.