After clearing a major hurdle last weekend against perennial NESCAC power Bates, the nationally 14th-ranked women's basketball team has a potentially taller order ahead of it tonight.
The 12-0 Jumbos will open their NESCAC schedule by hosting the Amherst Lord Jeffs, who bring into Cousens Gym an unblemished 14-0 mark as well as the No. 22 national ranking, both program bests.
"Now the real season begins," coach Carla Berube said. "Amherst is going to be a great test. We know these NESCAC games mean just a little bit more than the ones in the past, and even Bates last weekend, it was a non-conference game. I think Amherst is definitely a much better team than they have been in the past, and it's going to be a big challenge for us."
"We're proud of where we're at right now, and it feels really good to be winning like we are, but we are far from finished," junior guard Kim Moynihan added. "As we learned from last year, every game is just as important as the next. This is our home court, and we're going to defend as well as we can."
Unlike Bates, an established conference contender that has never finished below fourth place in the NESCAC, Amherst is an emerging power that has burst onto the scene under first-year head coach G.P. Gromacki. Heading into this season, the Jeffs had not finished higher than fifth in the conference since 2001, had not earned a First Team All-NESCAC selection since 2000, and had never been ranked in the D3Hoops.com national poll in their history.
But this season's Amherst squad is experiencing success that resembles nothing like its recent predecessors. With 14 victories, the Jeffs have already surpassed last season's win total, and with 10 regular season contests plus the entire postseason still at hand, the team is well within reach of its program record of 23 wins. But even with the instantaneous success, the team feels there is a lot left for it to accomplish.
"We have high expectations here at Amherst in everything we do," Gromacki said. "Our goal obviously is to win a NESCAC championship, and even win a national championship. That's what we're striving for."
While Amherst's defense has been stingy, holding opponents to just 51.6 points per game this season, their offense has been equally as impressive. The Jeffs' 79.1 points per game rank first in the NESCAC, and their field goal percentage of 48.2 is second-best in all of Div. III. While Tufts' defense has been strong so far, limiting opponents to just 31.2 percent shooting, the Jeffs will present a unique challenge.
"I think when a team is averaging such a high percentage, they're either getting layups or they're getting shots in the post," Berube said. "And they're also getting second-chance shots, loose balls. So there are certain things we're going to have to do, like come up with every defensive rebound, play good post defense, get out on shooters in the perimeter and keep them out of the lane. But they have a bunch of good athletes who run the court well, so it'll definitely be a challenge."
Meanwhile, Tufts' size, particularly in its starting frontcourt tandem of senior co-captain Khalilah Ummah and junior center Katie Tausanovitch, will be a big test for Amherst, a team that ranks in the bottom half of the NESCAC in rebounds and blocks. In addition, the Jumbos have been getting solid contributions off the bench from sophomore forward Julia Baily, just nine days removed from an 18-rebound performance against Emmanuel.
"Those are some big players that they have," Gromacki said. "They are a great rebounding team, and it's going to be tough to get good shots against them, but we'll do the best we can and see what happens."
Still, Amherst has had plenty of preparation for what promises to be a challenging NESCAC schedule. Three of the Jeffs' last five games have been decided by single digits, the most recent coming when they overcame a late second-half deficit to beat Little Three rival Wesleyan on the road.
Earlier, in the month, while participating in the Sunshine Shootout in Florida, Amherst picked up two close wins, including a Jan. 4 clash against Endicott decided on a buzzer-beater by sophomore forward Samantha Swensen.
"Winning close games is only going to help us down the road," Gromacki said. "Our team doesn't crack under pressure, so I definitely think that's a big advantage. We've had some people step up at critical points in the game, and there are definitely certain players we look to in those key spots."
Following the Amherst game, Tufts will take on Trinity tomorrow afternoon to conclude its first weekend of NESCAC play. The team knows that a strong effort in both games will have major implications for the rest of the season.
"Getting two wins this weekend would be huge," Moynihan said. "We definitely want to come out this weekend and make a statement and send a message to the other NESCAC teams. It is a new season, and anything could happen in the NESCAC."
