MEDFORD, Mass. -- The Brandeis University women's basketball
team never trailed in the second half today as four different
players - one from each class - scored in double figures to lead
the Judges to an 81-76 upset win over 16th-ranked Tufts in their
first road game of the season.
The Judges were paced by senior Lauren Orlando
(Peabody, Mass./Peabody), who tallied 20 points on 6-of-11 from the
field and 8-of-10 from the line, tying for game-high honors. Junior
guard Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye
Falls-Lime) added 19 points, connecting on 7-of-12 overall and
3-of-7 from 3-point range. The Judges also got career scoring highs
from sophomore guard Diana Cincotta (W. Boylston,
Mass./W. Boylston) and rookie Morgan Kendrew
(Cotuit, Mass./Barnstable), who had 10 points each. Both Cincotta
and Kendrew contributed two 3-pointers. Cincotta also led the
Judges with five assists.
After a first half that featured eight ties and nine lead
changes and saw the game tied, 34-34, the Judges settled down. With
a 42-40 lead with 16:22 on the clock, Chapin and Cincotta connected
on back-to-back trifectas to extend the lead to eight, 48-40. The
Jumbos clawed back and eventually tied the score at 63-63 on a
lay-up by Katie Tausanovich with 5:13 remaining. Brandeis answered
with six straight points on their next two possessions. Senior
co-captain Cassidy Dadaos (Healdsburg,
Calif./Healdsburg) converted a traditional three-point play after
an Amanda Wells (Loudon, N.H./Merrimack Valley)
offensive rebound, and Kendrew drained a 3-pointer after a Chapin
steal to put the Judges back up, 69-63 with 4:39 on the clock.
Brandeis was able to hang on to the victory by hitting 8-of-10 from
the line down the stretch.
Tufts also put four players in double figures, led by 20 points
from Tausanovich. Julia Baily added 12 points, while Kim Moynihan
had 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds, including six on the
offensive glass. Colleen Hart finished two assists shy of a
double-double for the Jumbos with 10 points and eight helpers.
Brandeis improved to 5-0 in their road contest of the season,
earning their second win over a nationally-ranked team. The Judges
previously dispatched Tufts' fellow NESCAC squad Bowdoin, 71-44, in
the Brandeis Tip-Off tournament.
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SCORE
