MEDFORD, Mass. – The Wesleyan women's basketball team fell behind early and couldn't recover as the Cardinals lost at Tufts 76-42 on Friday night from Cousens Gym. Wesleyan drops to 7-12 (1-5 NESCAC) with the defeat while the Jumbos improve to 13-6 (4-2 NESCAC).
 
Tufts blitzed the Cardinals with baskets on each of their first five trips down the floor, taking a 11-2 lead just 2:08 into play. Stella Galanes hit a three to make it 14-2 Jumbos before the Cardinals managed to find some success on offense as the two sides traded scorers for the remaining five minutes as Tufts led 22-12 after one.
 
The hosts hit four three-pointers in the second quarter, outscoring Wesleyan 18-7 in the frame, to lead 40-19 at the halftime break.
 
Meghan Kirck '28 hit a pair of three's in the third quarter while Tori DaCosta '25 scored five of her team-high 11 points in the quarter, as the Cardinals played to an even 16-16 scoreline in the third.
 
Trailing by 21 points entering the fourth quarter, both benches emptied as Tufts scored the first 11 points of the frame, leading by as many as 35 points before closing out the 76-42 win.
 
DaCosta tallied a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds (five offensive) while Kirck, Olivia Quinn '26, and Felicia Fongemie '27 each scored six points.
 
Sofia Gonzalez led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 4-of-9 from three to go along with five steals. Galanes was the only other Jumbo in double figures as she finished with 14 points. Tufts forced Wesleyan into 31 turnovers for the game, leading to a 28-6 edge in points off turnovers.
 
Wesleyan looks to bounce back on Saturday afternoon with a trip to New London to face Conn. College at 3 PM.