NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's basketball team capped a six-game homestand with a gutty 54-53 victory over Rhode Island College on Tuesday evening at Luce Field House.

After Sofia Tavarez (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) supplied the go-ahead bucket with 8.4 seconds remaining, the Camels got a stop on the defensive end to pull out the wild win. Conn trailed by six with 4:21 to go but forced four turnovers and limited RIC to 1-for-6 shooting down the stretch to make up the difference.

Tavarez and Mia Xerras (Charlotte, N.C.) each scored 15 points to lead the Camels, who improved to 5-3 at home this season. Hayle Thompson (Maynard, Mass.) added eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks while Sydney Marshall (Enfield, Conn.) also grabbed eight boards.

The Anchorwomen shot 6-for-11 in the first quarter to grab a 16-11 advantage after 10 minutes of action. Meagan Schuermann then drilled a three to start the second period, giving RIC its largest lead of the game at 19-11.

Conn responded with an 11-0 run to take its first lead since the opening minutes. Xerras drilled a pair of threes in the spurt while Avery Burns (Orleans, Mass.) also splashed a triple. Xerras finished with eight points in the quarter—and 10 in the half—as the Camels took a 28-27 lead into the locker room at the break.

Neither team led by more than three in the third quarter as the lead changed hands four times. A free throw by Nichole Ljuljic tied the game at 41-41 heading into the fourth, setting the stage for a dramatic final 10 minutes.

RIC netted the first four points of the fourth quarter to seize the momentum. Midway through the stanza, Abby Wager scored in the paint before getting a steal on the defensive end. She then fed Jaina Yekelchik for an easy two on the break, giving the Anchorwomen a 51-45 advantage with 4:21 to play.

Tavarez took the game over in the final two minutes. After feeding Thompson for a jumper in the paint, she drove the lane for a three-point play to bring the Camels to within one with 1:28 to go. She then forced a jump ball at midcourt to retake possession, and followed with a step-through to the basket that put the hosts up one.

On the ensuing trip down the floor, Shalyn Smith quickly got to the rim to put RIC back on top by a point. The Anchorwomen then forced a jump ball to regain possession, and Smith once again tried to attack the paint. This time, however, she was met by Thompson, who rejected her shot attempt and corralled the rebound with 13.8 seconds left.

Conn advanced the ball to midcourt with a timeout, and the inbound pass went to Tavarez. Rather than hold for the final shot, she immediately drove to the basket and banked in the go-ahead bucket. The Anchorwomen got one chance for the win, but Smith missed a mid-range jumper to end the contest.

Tavarez factored into all 13 of Conn's fourth-quarter points, supplying five field goals and assisting on another. The one-point win was the third of the season for the Camels, who moved to 4-2 in games decided by a single possession.

Xerras, who played all 40 minutes, shot 3-for-7 from long range. She also became the seventh player in program history to record 100 career three-pointers.

Conn (9-6 overall) will next play at Middlebury College on Friday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m.