Looking Back (FEB. 8) | Los Angeles Lakers 101, Cleveland Cavaliers 91
After taking down the reigning world champion Boston Celtics earlier in the week by a score of 110-109, the determined bunch of Hollywood boys took their traveling road show to Cleveland on Sunday for another showdown with a member of the Eastern Conference's elite.
With a resilient effort from flu-ridden guard Kobe Bryant, including 19 points in 35 minutes, the stingy squad continued to make its case as the best team in the NBA with a convincing 10-point victory over the Cavs.
Forward Lamar Odom cleaned up where Kobe was a bit sloppy, draining 28 points and nabbing 17 boards, and forward Pau Gasol played his part by contributing 18 points and 12 rebounds as well. In holding LeBron James to just 16 points in 40 minutes, the Lakers' defensive effort was perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the contest. The team's overall dominant performance thus far suggests that, even without young center Andrew Bynum, they just might have enough firepower this go around to take home the hardware at season's end.
The Lakers, who handed the Cavs their first home loss on the season, completed an impressive 6-0 road trip with the win and pushed their league-best record to 42-9 with a home defeat of the Oklahoma City Thunder this Tuesday. And as the Celtics fell to the San Antonio Spurs 105-99 on Sunday, it seems that power might be shifting back towards the Lakers and the rest of the Western Conference forerunners.
Looking Ahead (FEB. 13-15) | Women's Squash at Howe Cup
The women's squash team will compete in the Howe Cup this weekend, the year-end competition featuring the top 32 teams in the nation. The Jumbos, currently ranked No. 18 in the country, are expected to be placed in the Walker Cup (C Division), which represents the playoffs between the 17th- through 24th-ranked teams. The official draw and match locations will be announced later this week.
For Tufts, the Howe Cup represents an opportunity to finish an otherwise disappointing season on a high note. While the team had set out at the beginning of the year to qualify for the B Division, it's placement in the C Division offers a better chance for success. Last season, the then-16th-ranked Jumbos were shut out in the first round by No. 9 Williams.
Potential opponents this weekend include Colby, whom the Jumbos beat 5-4 last month, and Amherst, who downed Tufts in both of their meetings this season. As the rankings currently stand, Vasser, Franklin & Marshall, Wesleyan, William Smith and St. Lawrence are also slated to receive bids for the C division.
The Howe Cup will be the last opportunity for senior tri-captains Victoria Barba, Jessica Herrmann and Simone Grant to play for Tufts as a team before potentially competing in the College Squash Associations Individual Championships from February 27 to March 1.
