The women's basketball team has not dropped more than two straight games since the 1998-99 season. But the Jumbos are in danger of their first three-game losing streak in nearly two years when they host Clark University tonight.
Clark, a non-conference opponent, topped the Jumbos, 80-73, on Feb. 3 of last year. And while just five of the nine players from that team are back, the Jumbos nonetheless realize the importance of tonight's game, and of not underestimating their opponent.
"You can't take anyone for granted," coach Janice Savitz said. "I'm sure they'll come in with a lot of spit and fire because they're coming in from a big loss."
That loss came at the hands of Babson on Saturday, to the tune of an 84-67 margin. But the Jumbos fared no better against the Eagles on Nov. 28, losing 69-47, preceding a five-game winning streak that had seemingly put the team on track. The last two losses, however, including a 20-point defeat at the hands of MIT, have once again put a damper on the season.
"We just have to be prepared and not let their emotions supercede what we want to do," Savitz said of tonight's game.
Her team will not have to deal with Clark's leading scorer from last year, Nicole Dias, who was 4-4 from the three-point line in last year's win. This time around it is senior forward Emily Morgan leading the team, averaging 15 points and seven rebounds a night.
The Jumbos will look to put the disappointing losses behind them, especially Saturday's 64-56 loss to Bates. The Bobcats led by just a basket with less than six minutes remaining in the contest before turning it on down the stretch to win the NESCAC opener.
Tufts looked streaky for much of the game, seeming to close gaps as soon as Bates would open them, but could not take the lead at any point in the second half. In the opening frame, Tufts jumped out to a nine-point lead before falling prey to an 11-0 Bates run.
"We can't finish off games, we haven't learned how to finish a game yet and put the other team away," Goodman said. "Hopefully we'll be able to do that soon."
For a team looking to secure a spot in the first annual NESCAC Tournament, the next three weeks mark the most critical portion of the season. Eight of the Jumbos' next ten contests will come against NESCAC opponents, and for the team to finish in the top seven - a requirement for a tournament berth - it will likely need to win half of its conference games.
The team's next four NESCAC games come on the road, beginning with a match at Trinity on Friday. The Jumbos then head to Amherst for an important date with the 13-3 Lord Jeffs on Saturday.
"All the NESCAC games will be tough," sophomore point guard Hillary Dunm said. "None of them will be a cakewalk."
But for now, according to Goodman, the focus is on not overlooking Clark.
"We need it, we need a win," she said. "Each game counts, so its not a nothing game. It will help if we get a win going into this weekend."
While Goodman leads the team in scoring, the outside shots have gone to sophomore guard Erin Harrington, who missed the first five games of the season due to illness. Harrington has quickly become the team's second option and is averaging 12 points and four rebounds over her last four contests, including a career-high 18 in a win over Smith on Jan. 13. She contributed ten points and five boards in the loss to Bates, while Goodman scored 21 on 10-21 shooting. No other Jumbo reached double digits.
In fact, the tandem of Goodman and Harrington has scored 104 of the team's 227 points - or 46 percent - on the current homestand.
"Erin had kind of proven herself last year; she came off the bench and she produced. This year she's emerged as one of our leading players," Savitz said.
Goodman also took care of the majority of Tufts' points in last year's loss to Clark, contributing 36, good for the third best single-game total in team history. The only other Jumbo in double digits was graduated forward Molly Baker.
To keep the small losing streak from turning into a big one - and to succeed in conference play - the Jumbos will need to consistency, the ability to finish games off, and possibly another scoring option. Senior Shira Fishman and Dunn continue to split time at point guard, while freshman Maritsa Christoudias has at times shown signs of being able to take over a game. She scored 23 in a Dec. 3 win over Lasell, and is third on the team in scoring with 8.9 points a game. But she has reached double digits just once in seven games through January.
One of these options from the outside - or possibly freshman Kate Gluckman, a forward who has started ten of the team's 12 games - will need to produce in the coming weeks. Also necessary will be strength off the boards, which the Jumbos exhibited in outrebounding Bates 45-37.
"Hopefully our rebounding from that game will carry over," Goodman said. "That and defense can win games more than offense."
Tufts might be able to get by Clark tomorrow on the shoulders of its two surging players, but NESCAC play looms ahead, meaning a revival of sorts will be needed if the team is counting on postseason play.
