MEDFORD, MA. – The Wesleyan women's basketball team was defeated by Tufts Friday afternoon by a score of 72-60. The Jumbos led wire-to-wire in this one, getting out to a double-digit halftime lead, before holding the Cardinals at arm's length in the final 20 minutes of action. The Cardinals had some bright spots in the defeat, with junior guard Alana Jones '24 pouring in a career-high 19 points on an efficient 7/8 from the field. Wesleyan drops their third consecutive game to fall to 10-13 (3-6 NESCAC), while Tufts wins to advance to 17-6 (8-1 NESCAC).

Jones led the way for the Cardinals, putting up a career-high 19 points on 7/8 shooting and 5/7 from the free throw line. She also put together six rebounds and a team-high three assists. She was joined in double figures by Abby Gray '24 who finished with 11 (2/2 FG, 7/10 FT). Tori DaCosta '25 finished just a point and two rebounds away from her 10^th double-double of the season (nine points, eight rebounds).

The two teams traded three-pointers to open the game, with Maggie Lee '23 answering Tufts' Maggie Russell's triple to even the score at three. Tufts scored five of the next sic points, but a Brooke Guiffre '23 triple trimmed the deficit back to only one with 5:20 left in the first quarter. The Jumbos went on a 7-0 run over the next four minutes to up their lead back to eight, but a DaCosta layup in the final 30 seconds was able to give the Cardinals some momentum going into the 2^nd quarter.

Jones came out with a pair of buckets for the Cards and they were able to cut the Tufts' lead to just four two minutes into the 2^nd quarter. Sophia Gonzalez got hot for the Jumbos hitting two threes and a bucket inside to give the Jumbos their largest lead yet at 14 with three minutes to go until halftime. The Cardinals once again ended the quarter strong though, as a pair of Gray free throws and a Jones steal and score in the final minute had the deficit back to 10 at half.

Tufts would not let Wesleyan get back within striking distance to open the second half, holding the lead at double digits for the entirety of the quarter. The Jumbos started to really turn up the offensive pressure in the dying minutes of the 3^rd quarter, upping their lead to 18. Olivia Quinn '26 was able to hit a three before the 3^rd quarter buzzer to cut the Tufts lead to 15 going into the final 10 minutes of action.

The Jumbos held the Cardinals at arms reach in the final quarter, maintaining that 10+ point advantage throughout. Wesleyan made a late-quarter push to get it to 12, but the Jumbos lead was never in question as they were able to come away with their eighth conference win.

Wesleyan ended the game shooting 40.8% from the field, knocking down three of 17 triples. Tufts finished shooting 41.3%, hitting on six of 22 shots from beyond the arc. They benefitted from 25 second chance points. Jumbos were led by Gonzalez who finished with 17 points.

The Cardinals will return the court one final time in the regular season in a game against Bates with NESCAC Tournament implications on February 11^th.