In the Cousens Gymnasium on Sunday, the Tufts women’s basketball team celebrated senior guard Annie Aspesi and senior forward Sarah Crossett before their last regular season contest. With playoff seeding on the line, the Jumbos ultimately fell to the Bates Bobcats in a 68–50 decision.
Despite the loss, Tufts saw strong individual showings. First-year guard Tessa Lozner tallied 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists; first-year guard Abby Congdon also put up a solid performance, with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Finally, Crossett added 7 points and 5 rebounds in her Senior Day finale.
With no lead changes in the game, Bates set the tone quickly, jumping out to a 5–0 lead in the first 1:19 with a layup from center Elsa Deulerio and a 3-pointer on the next possession. Tufts made it on the board with a Crossett layup off of a Lozner assist. The Bobcats continued building their momentum by working efficiently on offense and converting on multiple looks inside. After a timeout at the 5:30 mark with an 18–8 score, Tufts was able to cut the deficit to 7 with a layup from Congdon and two drives resulting in layups from Lozner. Bates responded by scoring on an entry pass into the post to slow Tufts’ momentum, closing the first quarter leading 23–14.
The first quarter was crucial for both teams’ offensive rhythms throughout the rest of the game, marking a difference in efficiency beyond the arc. Bates went 3–7 from the perimeter, and shot 10–18 from the field (55.56%), maintaining a balanced attack from the inside out. At the same time, Tufts shot 0–5 from the three, a usual offensive strong point, as they have the second-highest 3-point percentage in the NESCAC.
The Jumbos started off the second quarter strong defensively with a steal from junior guard Stella Galanes and a jumper from Aspesi, that cut the deficit to seven. Bates, however, quickly regained control with a 3-pointer, two made jumpers and a free throw, which extended the lead to 31–16 midway through the quarter.
The main difference was in Bates’ high percentage shooting from three, where they converted on 3–4 threes (75%) in the quarter, while Tufts went 0–5 once again. Bates controlled the quarter with quick ball movement and stretching the floor, forcing Tufts to expend a lot of energy defensively. Bates also maintained a high assist and rebounding presence. Although Tufts struggled from the outside, they took advantage of free throw opportunities, going 7–10 from the line. The Jumbos entered halftime with a 14-point deficit, 39–25.
Tufts opened the second half with a quick layup from Crossett on an up-and-down screen play. The Jumbos grabbed a few rebounds, but Bates then capitalized on an open layup. While Bates made two more layups and a free throw, Tufts’ shooting went cold until about halfway through the quarter when Lozner completed a tough right side layup. The Jumbos stayed within range of the Bobcats, generating second chances for themselves throughout the quarter, which, for the most part, allowed them to not concede a greater lead. However, a 5–0 Bates run, including a buzzer-beater banked three to end the quarter, made the hole even deeper to climb out of. Bates shot poorly in this quarter, but converted on timely accounts.
Tufts continued to put up a formidable effort throughout the last quarter, converting on 7–8 free throws from drives to the basket. Lozner kicked off Tufts’ effort with an up-and-under layup, followed by a jumper from Congdon on a screen handoff play, cutting Bates’ lead to 14. Bates then made a layup to counter the momentum, and Lozner drove and was fouled, making both of her foul shots. This was immediately followed by a 3-pointer for Bates.
Every slight gain that the Jumbos made was neutralized by Bates’ high percentage shooting across the court. While Tufts drew fouls on drives and went 7–8 from the line, Bates continued to respond, finding looks into the post and layups to offset the momentum. The Jumbos continued to fight, showing defensive grit, but the Bobcats extended possessions and ran the clock down the stretch.
Crossett reflected on her Senior Day. “We are so grateful for everyone, including our teammates, coaches, parents, and admin who really went above and beyond to make Senior Day so special for us. It was such a fun celebration of our time with the program and, of course, so full circle to share the day with Annie [Aspesi],” she wrote in a message to the Daily.
Head coach Meredith Mesaris also commented on the game. “We knew coming into the game against Bates that it was going to be a competitive battle for 40 minutes. I’m really proud of how this group continues to grow and represent our program. They show up every day ready to work, compete for one another, and embrace the process. Our focus is always on staying connected, playing with toughness, and continuing to improve. We’re excited for the opportunity that playoffs bring and look forward to competing together in that next stage,” she wrote in a message to the Daily.
Tufts will now enter the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the NESCAC Conference. They will travel to Brunswick, Maine, to face the No. 1 seed in the NESCAC, Bowdoin College, on Saturday.
