CRAWFORD AND SEVERAL PRIDE MEMBERS CHALLENGE TUFTS

MEDFORD - Senior guard Colleen Hart (Needham, MA) scored 21 points with five assists and four steals as the Tufts women's basketball team defeated Regis College 58-47 in non-conference action at Cousens Gym on Thursday night.

The victory was the eighth straight for Tufts, who improved to 9-1 overall. Regis (6-5), who lost their third in a row, was led by 10 points, 15 rebounds and three assists by senior tri-captain Sarah McNult (Hampstead, NH).

Tufts didn't take control of the game until late in the second half. They led 33-27 at the half, but Regis worked the margin down to a 38-38 tie on a three-pointer by junior Stefanie Wozmak (Auburn, NH) with 15:37 remaining in the second half. However, the Pride would only score nine more points over the remainder of the game as Tufts pulled away.

A lay-up by Tufts first year Liz Moynihan (Storrs, CT) broke the tie and put the hosts up for good at 40-38 with 14:33 to play. It remained a one-possession game for most of the next seven minutes. The Jumbo lead was only three points (46-43) when they surged to a double-digit margin (54-43) on the wave of an 8-0 run. Hart scored four of the points. The Tufts advantage went as high as 15 points at 2:09 following a pair of free throws from junior guard Tiffany Kornegay (Carver, MA).

Regis had held the lead for most of the first half. There were up 23-15 at 6:06 on a lay-up by first year guard Teresa Busiek (Arlington, MA). Consecutive three-pointers by Hart, senior Vanessa Miller (Cincinnati, OH) and sophomore Bre Dufault (Hampden, MA) helped produce a 27-24 Tufts advantage later in the half and they led by six at the break. Hart had 12 points at intermission for Tufts and Busiek had eight for the Pride.

Tufts won despite shooting just 29.3 percent (22/75), although they did hit six of 12 on three-pointers. Dufault added nine points and six rebounds, while first year Ali Rocchi (Fairfield, CT) finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. Miller recorded eight points, eight rebounds and two assists. Tufts had just eight turnovers.

Regis, on the other hand, turned it over 25 times leading to 21 Tufts points. They were held to six of 17 shooting (35.3 percent) in the second half. Busiek finished with 10 points, while first year Claire Ramonas (Portland, ME) totaled eight points and 10 rebounds. Junior Stephanie Crawford (Rockland, MA) finished with seven points and five assists for the Pride.

Tufts is idle until January 14 when they open their NESCAC schedule at home against Middlebury. Regis begins The Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Saturday at Colby-Sawyer with a 1 pm tip-off.