MEDFORD, Mass. - Senior Sami Ashton (Clinton, Conn.) became the 17th player in program history to score her 1,000th career point, but the Connecticut College women's basketball team fell to No. 1 Tufts by a 78-59 score on Saturday afternoon.

 

Ashton, who entered the game with 998 career points, reached the milestone with 3:49 left in the first quarter by converting a layup. She finished the game with 10 points and three rebounds.

The first quarter was tightly contested between the two teams. Emily Briggs broke a 4-4 tie and sparked an 8-0 run, and the Jumbos led by five points at 22-17 through one quarter of play.

Connecticut College stayed within striking distance for the beginning of the second quarter, but a streak of scoring 12 unanswered points that was once again started by Briggs gave the hosts a 42-27 lead into the break.

The Camels fell further behind in the third and began to chip away at the deficit, as junior Casey Walsh (Phoenixville, Pa.) got a layup and a free throw and sophomore Jenna Whelan (Bernardsville, N.J.) also converted a free throw to make it a 14-point game. However, the Jumbos remained in control got and six straight points to close out the quarter with a 60-38 lead. The hosts maintained a sizable advantage the rest of the way to remain undefeated through 22 games.

Tufts (22-0, NESCAC 8-0) was led by Erica DeCandido, who led all scorers with 27 points while also providing six rebounds and three assists. Briggs finished with 18 points and four boards.

In addition to Ashton reaching a milestone, sophomore Claire Gulbin (Wilton, Conn.) contributed 14 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Whelan matched Ashton's 10 points and three boards, and Walsh ended the game with eight points and six rebounds.

Connecticut College (7-14, NESCAC 2-6) will wrap up non-conference play with a second trip to Babson on Monday evening at 7 p.m.