Aside from the Tufts women, six other NESCAC teams appeared in the Div. III men's and women's basketball NCAA Tournaments over the weekend. Of all NESCAC schools involved, only Amherst will be sending both its men's and women's teams to the Sweet Sixteen next weekend.
The Jeffs women very nearly didn't make it, however, barely surviving a second-round matchup against conference rival Bowdoin, 61-60, Saturday night in Bridgewater, Mass. The contest was a rematch of the NESCAC semifinals, a game that Amherst won 72-61.
The Jeffs can thank the leadership and drive of senior tri-captain Shaina Pollack for their victory. The first team All-NESCAC guard scored a game-high 23 points, while also tallying five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Junior forward Yasmine Harik also pulled in 11 rebounds, five offensive and six defensive.
Friday, the Lord Jeffs will travel to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to face DePauw in their first-ever Sweet Sixteen appearance.
While the women's team eked out its victory over Bowdoin to stay alive in the tournament, the defending national champion men's team moved through the second round with a little more ease, taking John Jay by a final score of 96-74.
The Lord Jeffs were led by senior leading scorer Fletcher Walters who notched 24 points in the game, as well as eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals. John Jay junior guard Godfrey Mascall fought hard for the Bloodhounds, scoring 21 points, but in the end the Lord Jeffs' offensive firepower was simply too much to handle.
Up next, Amherst will face Richard Stockton on Friday at Plattsburgh State. The Jeffs are the only NESCAC squad remaining on the men's side. Conference champion Trinity, runner-up Bowdoin and semifinalist Middlebury have all been bounced from the tourney.
