MEDFORD - Smith's unbeaten start came to an end on Tuesday night, as the third-ranked Bears suffered a narrow 60-57 setback at Tufts University. The Jumbos (9-8) handed the Bears (14-1) its first loss of the season, marking the second-straight year Tufts has come away with the win.
Smith began the game with a strong defensive effort, limiting Tufts to just two field goals in the first quarter.
Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran) opened the scoring with a layup at 8:14, setting the pace for the Bears.
Selam Maher (St.Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park) and
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) each added layups to extend the lead to 6-0.
Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) contributed significantly with a layup at the 3:20 mark, pushing the Bears' lead to 8-4.
Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep) drained a three-pointer, securing an 11-4 advantage before Stella Galanes managed a tip-in in the final seconds to make it 11-6.
Abi Stone of Tufts was instrumental in the second quarter, scoring multiple layups and contributing to a 34-31 lead by the end of the period. The Bears'
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) responded with three consecutive free throws at 2:52 to keep the game close. Claire Kolkhorst added crucial points for the Jumbos with a three-pointer at 1:48, while the Bears'
Mya Williams (Temple City, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial) and
Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran) combined for key points to narrow the gap.
Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) closed the quarter with a layup, bringing the Bears within three points as the half ended.
In the third quarter, Tufts maintained their lead with a balanced offensive effort, closing the period ahead 48-42. Johnson contributed significantly with a layup at 6:26 and a three-pointer at 0:37, narrowing the gap temporarily. However, the Jumbos responded with critical free throws and a late three-pointer by Annie Aspesi at 0:13 to extend their advantage. Despite
Uta Nakamura's (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran) successful free throws at the buzzer, the Bears trailed by six points heading into the final quarter.
The Bears made a strong push in the fourth quarter with key plays from
Selam Maher (St.Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park), who hit two crucial three-pointers, including one with 16 seconds remaining to bring the Bears within two points. Tessa Lozner of the Jumbos provided significant contributions early in the quarter with two early layups, maintaining their lead.
Felicia Fongemie (Ashford, CT/Marianapolis Prep) was effective at the free-throw line, converting both attempts at 8:53 to keep the Bears in contention. The final moments were tense, as Abi Stone's free throw with 12 seconds left secured a 60-57 win for the Jumbos. The Bears' last-second attempts to tie the game were unsuccessful as the clock expired.
Smith Top Performers
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest)
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- 15 points
- 3 steals
- 4 rebounds
Selam Maher (St.Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park)
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- 10 points
- 2 3-pointers
Ella Sylvester (Everett, WA/Everett)
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- 6 points
- 6 rebounds
Uta Nakamura (Manhattan, NY/Long Island Lutheran)
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- 9 points
- 4 assists
- 3 rebounds
Up Next
Smith returns to conference play tomorrow night when the Bears host Mount Holyoke College at 7:00pm
About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log onto GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram
