The last thing Tufts needs right now is to take on one of the best teams in the country. Unfortunately, that is exactly what it is doing Friday night when the Jumbos host Wesleyan University.
Losers of six straight and seven of their last eight, the Jumbos will have "upset" on their minds against the 23rd ranked Cardinals, and will try to get their season heading back in the right direction. To do so, they will have to overcome Wesleyan's interior trio of juniors Hannah Stubbs, Ashley Mastrangelo, and Meghan Robinson. The three combine for an average of 41 points and 23 rebounds per game. Tufts may use a few other defenses in addition to its normal pressure man-to-man in order to take away Wesleyan's inside scoring.
"We might go a little zone," Tufts coach Carla Berube said. "We're definitely going to take care of the inside and show them some different looks. We're going to play some of the defense we're best at: pressure man-to-man, but we'll probably also play some sagging man. We're not going to allow their post players to have a field day. We're going to limit their opportunities."
Wesleyan's inside prowess also presents the Jumbos with a challenge on the boards. Tufts gave up 14 offensive rebounds in last Saturday's 68-59 loss to Middlebury, and the team cannot expect to win if it surrenders that many again.
"[Rebounding] is always an emphasis, and definitely this week it has been overemphasized," Berube said. "We don't have a dominant rebounder, so all five players have to box out. We have to get team rebounds."
In addition to Wesleyan's big three inside, Tufts will also try to limit point guard Nora Bowman. Bowman has done a good job distributing and protecting the ball this year and is, in Berube's words, "a good defender." And despite averaging less than eight points-per-game this year, she is second on the team in free throw attempts, a testament to her penetrating ability and aggressiveness.
"She likes to penetrate," Berube said. "We'll do our best to keep her out of the lane. I think we'll play her straight up and try to pressure her. In our pressure defense we want to get in the passing lanes. I've been saying all week, it's not about the other team, it's about what we're doing and our execution."
Offensively, the Jumbos will look to push the ball up the court to take advantage of their talent on the perimeter. Even without point guard Julia Verplank, who was lost with a knee injury seven games ago, Tufts is deeper than Wesleyan, particularly in the backcourt.
"I'd love to push the ball - in a smart way," Berube said. "We don't want to force things. But an up-tempo game is definitely in our favor. If that's not there, I feel comfortable with our offensive execution. We want to pound the ball inside; we're not going to just settle for three pointers."
The Jumbos need to shoot better than they did over the losing streak. Junior guard Jessica Powers, the team's second leading scorer, has shot just 30 percent over the last six games. Powers, one of the better players in the NESCAC, needs to return to form for Tufts to shake their current struggles.
A win would be huge for Tufts, and would go a long way in turning the season around. It is hard to imagine Berube not coming out fired up and ready to play.
"After losing six games in a row, it shouldn't matter who we're playing," Berube said. "Playing such a good team makes it an added challenge for us. I think we'll be up for it, and play to the best of our ability."
