The women's basketball team won twice on the road this weekend, sweeping NESCAC rivals Wesleyan and Conn. College to improve to 15-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
The Jumbos have now won 15 of their last 16 games and climbed to second place in the conference standings, led by stellar defensive play. In the two games this weekend, Tufts allowed a total of 53 points and held opponents to just 16.5 percent shooting from the field.
"Our defense in both games really came through for us," senior co-captain forward Kate Barnosky said. "We play hard on defense and it leads to a better offense for us."
On Saturday, the Jumbos had a historic defensive performance at Conn. College in a fight for sole possession of second place in the league. The Camels came in at 13-2 overall and 4-1 in the NESCAC, but they looked out of sync on their home floor, shooting a putrid 6-for-47 (12.8 percent) from the field and losing 51-21.
Tufts had not allowed 21 points or fewer since Nov. 23, 2002, when they beat Emerson 67-20. The Jumbos held Camels star senior guard JennShinall — the reigning NESCAC Player of the Week — to just four points.
"Our defense propelled us throughout the game," junior guard Collier Clegg said. "We had a good scouting report against them and were able to shut down their shooters. We made sure to hedge out on all screens to stop their three-point shooting. It was good team defense."
Clegg had another strong showing off the bench, leading the team with 16 points, three rebounds and three steals. Freshman guard Hannah Foley also chipped in with 10 points and a steal.
Although the team's lack of size was expected to be an Achilles' heel at the start of the season, the Jumbos have done a remarkable job controlling the paint in recent games. On Saturday, they scored 16 points in the paint while holding the Camels scoreless down low. Senior guard Tiffany Kornegay is tied for second in the conference in rebounding, averaging 8.5 boards per game.
"We have been trying to get it in the post to help our inside-out game," Clegg said. "We post up hard and once they start hitting shots [inside] it opens up the outside shots."
On Friday the Jumbos were nearly as dominant, cruising to a 54-32 win at Wesleyan while holding the Cardinals to 19.6 percent from the field. Tufts outrebounded Wesleyan 48-37, an impressive task given their foes' height advantage at center and forward.The Jumbos did not trail the entire game, and freshman guard Kelsey Morehead led a balanced Jumbos attack with nine points, five rebounds and three assists while committing only one turnover.
With six games left on its schedule, Tufts trails only Amherst atop the conference standings. In two weeks, the Jumbos will host the Lord Jeffs, a squad that is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation.
For now, though, they are intent on taking it one game at a time.
"We are pumped up right now," Clegg said. "It has been a crazy NESCAC season and we are looking forward to the rest of the NESCAC games."
