Williams Outlasts Tufts in Overtime in Women's Basketball Quarterfinals
Courtesy Williams/Tufts Sports Information
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – For the second time this winter, Williams needed overtime to get past Tufts as the Ephs posted a 69-64 victory over the Jumbos in the quarterfinals of the 2011 NESCAC Women's Basketball Championship on Saturday afternoon. Williams, the fourth seed in this year's tournament, overcame a seven-point deficit with 3:44 to play to win. Williams advances to face top-seeded Amherst next Saturday in the first semifinal at 2:00 p.m.
With 3:44 remaining in regulation, Tufts was up 54-47 and was closing in on advancing to the semifinal round. Williams' Jill Greenberg hit a jumper in the lane to give the hosts a spark, and later Taylor Shea made a layup to bring Williams within 56-53 and 2:08 left on the clock. Coming out of a time-out, Tufts first year Ali Rocchi hit an elbow jumper to push the lead back up to five, but Greenberg came back and drilled a three.
On the next possession, Williams came up with a stop and then got the ball to Shea who spun and made the layup to tie the game at 58 with 30 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Tufts ran down the clock to get the last shot but missed a foul line jumper, sending the game into overtime.
Williams came out in overtime and scored the first four points, as Chessie Jackson hit a three to start things off. Jumbo senior Colleen Hart responded by making a jump shot before Williams was whistled for fouls on the next two possessions. Tufts made three of four foul shots to go up by one. Williams shut Tufts out for the remainder of the game and hit five foul shots to win 69-64.
The game had got off to a scintillating start. Both teams were on fire, as Tufts shot 6-for-6 from the floor and Williams shot 3-for-4. Tufts gained the early advantage going up 12-7, however Williams was able to tie it up at 16-16 with 12:21. Tufts then went on an 8-0 run and held Williams scoreless until the 5:40 mark of the first half. Shea finally ended the drought with a layup assisted by Greenberg. With that assist, Greenberg broke the school record for assists with 380 previously held by Liz Creighton.
Up 24-22, Tufts went on a 10-3 run to end the half led by senior Vanessa Miller who hit two consecutive threes to send the Jumbos into the break up 34-25.
Williams started the second on a 12-0 run highlighted by a Grace Rehnquist three from deep. The score was 37-34 Williams with 12:40 left in regulation when Tufts junior Tiffany Kornegay ended the scoring drought a pair of foul shots. Tufts then went on a 6-0 run and was able to hold onto a narrow lead until the end.
Shea had 20 points and eight rebounds, leading the Ephs in scoring. Miller had a spectacular game, shooting seven of nine from the field and four for five from three, scoring 20 points overall. Tufts' other leading scorer was Hart, who had 18 points and six assists.
