Williams (23-1, 9-0 NESCAC), ranked first in the D3Hoops.com national poll, and the defending national champion, finishes first in NESCAC. Tufts (7-16, 2-7), who was led by 14 points from sophomore forward Scott Armstrong (Rockville, MD), awaits the result of Saturday’s Colby at Bowdoin game to find out if they will qualify as one of the eight teams for the conference tournament that begins next Saturday (Feb. 21).
Crotty scored all of his 14 points in the first half as the Ephs pulled out to a 42-29 lead. The visitors quickly built a 10-0 advantage and led by 19, 31-12, on a pair of free throws by senior tri-captain Ben Coffin (Westford, MA) at 7:51. Tufts fought back to cut the margin to 10, 39-29, at 1:32 after a jumper by sophomore Blaine Lay (Rockville, MD). Senior co-captain Deyvehn East’s (Greenfield, MA) 11 points led the Jumbos at the break.
Tufts, which has six of its seven wins on its home court, narrowed the margin down to nine points, 49-40, with a lay-up by sophomore Dan Martin (Sandwich, MA) at 15:12 of the second half. Williams responded with a 12-2 run that put the lead at 19, 61-42, on a lay-up by freshman Dana Leary (Washington, DC) at 9:19. That was all she wrote. The Ephs led by as many as 27, and both teams would empty their benches for the final minutes of play.
Williams held the Jumbos to 32.3 percent (20/62) shooting, including 27.6 (8/29) in the second half. Coffin finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks for the Ephs. Williams worked a 49-36 advantage on the boards, with junior Tucker Kain (Cleveland, OH) adding eight rebounds to his seven points.
Sophomore center Blaine Lay (Rockville, MD) and East finished with 11 points for the Jumbos. Senior co-captain Eric Mack (Fall River, MA) had seven assists.
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