MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Facing perennial league power Tufts in their conference opener, the Wesleyan women's basketball team had moments in the second half but were unable to claw back from a 22-point halftime deficit as the No. 9 nationally-ranked Jumbos defeated the Cardinals 86-66 on Friday night from Silloway Gymnasium. The Cardinals (6-7, 0-1 NESCAC) saw their two-game win streak snapped while Tufts (9-1, 1-0 NESCAC) wins their fifth straight.
 
Maddie Clark '22 tallied 16 points to lead three Cardinals in double figures while Caleigh Ryan '22 tallied 14 points to go along with six assists and three rebounds. Marina Petruzzi '22 finished with 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. Madison Szabo '23 was a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor on her way to eight points with six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Wesleyan outscored the Jumbos 32-30 in the second half but couldn't overcome a blistering showing for the Jumbos from deep as Tufts hit a season-high 12 triples while going 12-for-22 (54.5 percent) from behind the arc.
 
It was a tight game for most of the first quarter as Tori DaCosta '25 was on the receiving end of a nice dish from Ryan in the paint to knot the score at 10-10 more than midway through the opening period. Clark later hit on a jumper with two minutes remaining to make it 17-15 Jumbos but a 9-2 run to end the first quarter set the tone for the remainder of the first half.

What was once a two-point margin suddenly became a 23-point deficit as the Jumbos continued to rain in threes, going 6-for-7 from deep in the second quarter alone to post a 30-point quarter and lead 56-34 at the break.
 
The Cardinals hung in and gave the Jumbos some trouble in the second half, limiting Tufts to just 30 combined points compared to the 56-point first half outburst. Clark hit a three-pointer with 7:06 left in the third quarter that cut the Tufts lead down to 60-42 and the Cardinals would continue to push with a 12-0 run midway through the fourth quarter that cut a 26-point deficit down to 14 with 3:51 remaining. That, however, would be the closest Wesleyan would get as Tufts held the Cardinals scoreless from that point forward to close out the 86-66 win.
 
Maggie Russell posted a career-high for the Jumbos as she went for 27 points (10-19 FG, 3-6 3FG) with 12 rebounds. Erin Poindexter McHan tallied 20 points (7-10 FG, 5-7 3FG) while Molly Ryan tallied a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists in 37 minutes of action.
 
Wesleyan looks to rebound on Sunday afternoon with a 2 PM tip-off against Bates. Continue to check the team schedule page for up-to-the-minute updates on COVID postponements and cancelations. Fans can watch the game for free courtesy of the Northeast Sports Network.