Women's basketball on record breaking pace

Times are good if you are a Tufts women's basketball player or fan. The Jumbos at 14-3 are on track to possibly the best season since women's basketball arrived at Tufts in 1972. A new coach and a new emphasis on defense have played a large part in the Jumbos' success thus far.

This year's squad has already broken the school record for winning streak length by rattling off nine straight in January. The former record of eight consecutive victories was set during the 1985-86 season. That team went on to win 16 games and earn a playoff berth.

The current Jumbos are just two wins away from tying the '85-86 team's victory total, and six wins away from breaking the 19 game all-time record for wins in a season set by the 1986-1987 squad.

To break the record in the regular season, Tufts would have to win the rest of its games this season. Four of the squad's last six matches are against NESCAC foes, including first place Bowdoin and second place Colby.

Bowdoin is having an outstanding season with its undefeated 6-0 NESCAC mark adding to a 17-1 overall record. Colby is 5-1 in league play and 14-4 overall. Both teams will pose a formidable challenge for the fourth place Jumbos if they are to break the school record for wins in a season.

Rookie head coach Carla Berube has brought a plethora of basketball experience and a defensively oriented strategy to the Tufts team. After playing for the 1995 undefeated and NCAA Division I national championship UConn team, playing in the ABL and assistant coaching at Providence College, Berube brings great basketball knowledge to the Jumbo squad.

"She was a great player and hard work was what made her what she was," senior captain Hillary Dunn said.

Because conditioning was such an integral part of her own successful playing career, Berube implemented a rigorous conditioning program at Tufts this season.

"In the preseason we worked hard getting into really good shape, our practices are still really tough too," Dunn said. "Because of our conditioning, we can pressure other teams on defense more than last year. We do better denying the wings and playing tough post defense."

Due to this increased endurance, Tufts has amassed 223 steals this season. The team had also forced an average of 25.5 turnovers per game going into this past weekend's contests.

Berube has not only augmented Tufts' physical play, she has established a new work ethic and overall attitude on the court.

"The biggest thing is that she demands 100 percent at all times," Dunn said. "She expects all your desire to be put into your defense and expects a lot of heart."

This change of heart has allowed the Jumbos to excel so far this season. With just six games remaining in the February lull before the playoffs begin on the 22nd, Tufts will have to keep the momentum rolling through the rest of their four league games.

"For most of January, our game schedule was pretty hectic. Now it has kind of calmed down," Dunn said. "We will spend Wednesday and Thursday preparing for our weekend games."

Berube's squad currently is in position to qualify for the NESCAC championship tournament for the first time since the 2000-2001 season. The top eight teams in the conference will receive invitations to the NESCAC's.

Although the Jumbos are tied for fourth place in league after this weekend, they are in no way a shoe-in for a post season berth. The next few weeks will determine whether or not Berube's defensive, conditioned team will make it. This however, does not concern the coach.

"It's still early. We still have two more weekends of NESCAC games. We don't really look at the standings, we are just concerned with us," Berube said.