WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's basketball team cut a 13-point deficit to two in the closing minutes of the contest, but the Judges couldn't get over the hump in a 67-61 loss to visiting Tufts University in Red Auerbach Arena today.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis, 2-2.
• Tufts, 1-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Judges got off to a great start, leading by as many as five points in the first period on a steal and lay-up by first-year Saviah Shabazz (Plano, Texas/Plano West Senior) made it 16-11.
• While Tufts was able to get the lead back, one of four lead changes in the opening period, a back-door lay-up by senior Lulu Ohm (Waltham, Mass./Waltham) and a late Shabazz free throw gave the Judges a 19-17 lead after one.
• The key run of the game came late in the second quarter. The Jumbos had taken a 29-24 lead midway through the period, but a Claire Candela (Maynard, Mass./Milton Acad.) 3-pointer and Brooke Reed (Chantilly, Va./Westfield) fast-break bucket tied the game at 29-all with 2:40 to go.
• Tufts responded by scoring the final six points of the half, four coming from Sarah Crossett, to take a 35-29 lead into the locker room.
• Crossett led all players with 14 points at the half, while Ohm had 12 for the Judges.
• The visitors got off to a fast start in the third period, outscoring Brandeis 11-4 over the first 6:49. A Stella Gaines steal and lay-up gave the Jumbos their largest lead of the game of 13 points at 46-33.
• Brandeis responded by scoring the final eight points of the stanza, seven coming first-years, as Ava Skladanowski (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) and Jessica Maina (Bradford, Mass./Brooks School) each dialed long distance as the Judges got within 46-41 headed into the fourth.
• Judge junior Katherine Vaughan (Bedford, Mass./Bedford) opened the final period with a block, a rebound and a bucket to get Brandeis within one possession, but Tufts was able to push the lead back to nine points at 52-43 with 6:11 on the clock.
• The Judges wouldn't go away, as they scored nine of the next 11 points, six by Ohm, whose lay-up after a Shabazz steal made it 57-55 with 1:47 left.
• Tufts responded with a bucket, and though Brandeis cut the lead back to two three times in the final minute, they couldn't get the stop they needed to overcome the Jumbos, who hit their last six free throws for the final margin.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

•  Ohm was the Judges' leading scorer for the fourth time this season with 26 points, her second game this season with 20 or more points. She hit 9-of-22 from the field, 2-of-7 from 3-point range and 6-of-8 from the line.
• Junior Caitlin Gresko (Howell, N.J./Howell) was the only other Brandeis player to score in double figures with 10 points. She also led the Judges with five assists.
• Reed had a terrific game on the glass, grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass, just two fewer than the entire Tufts team. Brandeis outrebounded the Jumbos, 44-29, overall.
• Tufts had four double-digit scorers. Crossett led the team with 16 points, while Annika Decker had 14. Sofia Gonzalez scored 13 and Annie Aspesi netted 11 off the bench.
• Crossett and Gonzalez tied for team-high honors with five rebounds each.
• Decker finished with five steals, as Tufts had a 25-14 turnover edge and 23-8 advantage in points off turnovers to help offset their rebounding deficit.

UP NEXT

• The Judges return to action on Tuesday, November 19^th at home against Rivier University at 6 p.m.