NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's basketball team dropped a 59-43 decision to Tufts University on Saturday afternoon in a NESCAC clash at Luce Field House.

The Jumbos took the lead for good in the final two minutes of the third period, and then outscored the Camels 18-4 in the final stanza to secure the victory. Sofia Gonzalez finished with game highs of 20 points and seven steals to lead Tufts, which improved to 12-6 overall (3-2 NESCAC). 

Mia Xerras (Charlotte, N.C.) paced the Camels with 12 points and shot 4-for-7 from long range. Hayle Thompson (Maynard, Mass.) added nine points and five rebounds while Addi Hunter (Saint George, Vt.) grabbed a team-high nine boards. 

After a low-scoring first quarter yielded only seven points for each side, both offenses kicked into gear in the second. The Jumbos scored the first eight points of the period, but the Camels countered with 11 straight to grab their first lead at 18-15 with 5:43 left in the half. Xerras drilled a pair of threes during the run while Catherine Cole (Lebanon, N.H.) supplied a lay-up and three free throws.

Xerras's third trey of the quarter put Conn in front 23-22 with 3:34 to go in the half. However, Caitlyn O'Boyle scored the final two buckets of the half to put the Jumbos up 26-23 at the break. Xerras led all scorers with nine points at intermission.

Tufts never gave up the lead in the second half, although Conn did tie the score at three different points. The last came at the 1:54 mark of the third when Catie Donadio (Clinton, Conn.) converted a pair of free throws to pull the Camels even at 39-39. 

The Jumbos took a 41-39 lead into the final quarter and quickly added to the margin, scoring seven straight points to go up by nine. Gonzalez had the hot hand with nine points in the period, and Tufts built the lead to as many as 18 before the final buzzer.

Conn (10-9 overall, 0-5 NESCAC) will next host Trinity College on Friday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m.