MEDFORD, Mass. (courtesy Tufts Sports Information) - Senior tri-captain Hannah Foley and sophomore Michela North combined for 38 points, including 26 in the second half, as the Tufts women's basketball team pulled away from Brandeis for a 74-51 non-conference win at Cousens Gym Saturday.
Leading by four at halftime (27-23), the Jumbos outscored the Judges 47-28 in the second half behind 14 points from Foley and 12 by North. Foley finished with a game-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds, while North totaled 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Brandeis was within five after a pair of free throws by senior Hannah Cain (Gloucester, Mass./Gloucester) at the 17:05 mark of the second half trimmed Tufts' lead to 34-29. However, the Jumbos scored the next seven points and led by double-digits the rest of the way. Foley's three at 15:12 gave the hosts a 41-29 advantage.
The Judges would close within 10 three times and were still in it down 13 (56-43) following a lay-up by sophomore Maria Jackson (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) at 5:43 of the second half. A pair of threes by Foley put it away for the Jumbos, opening a 64-43 margin with 4:30 on the clock.
Tufts made five of 10 three-pointers in the second half and 17 of 37 field goals overall (45.9 percent). Brandeis on the other hand shot just seven of 25 in the second (28 percent).
In the first half, Brandeis had an 11-10 lead on Jackson's jumper at the 12:12 mark. Tufts had an answer then as well, scoring the next eight including a three by senior tri-captain Kelsey Morehead to lead 18-11 with nine minutes until halftime.
A pair of Noel Hodges (Southampton, N.Y./Southampton) free throws brought Brandeis within two (20-18), but the Jumbos managed to take the four-point lead into halftime. North had six points and seven rebounds in the first 20 for Tufts, while junior guard Niki Laskaris (Swampscott, Mass./Swampscott) had a half-high seven points for the visitors.
Senior tri-captain Hayley Kanner finished with seven points, six rebounds and three assists for the Jumbos. First-year Melissa Baptista came off the bench to score seven points in nine minutes. Back-up point guard Josie Lee added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Laskaris' 15 points on 5 for 10 shooting (2 for 2 on threes) led Brandeis. Jackson put up eight points and pulled down five rebounds, while Cain finished at six points, five rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Sydney Sodine (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) led with eight rebounds.
Brandeis (3-1), which took its first loss of the season, hosts Emmanuel on Tuesday at 6 pm. The Jumbos remained unbeaten at 4-0 and play at Eastern Connecticut also on Tuesday at 6.