Muller hit seven of eight shots, including four of five three-point attempts. She was perfect in the first half, going four for four overall and three for three on three-point attempts. That helped the Jumbos open a 40-21 lead at the break, and they didn’t look back.
Tufts, which improved to 9-3 overall, remained undefeated at home (5-0). Keene State, which lost its third straight game, was led by 15 points from sophomore forward Stacey Morse (Lebanon, NH).
Tufts mostly held a slim lead early on until blowing the game open by scoring the last 15 points of the first half. The Owls were within 25-21 on a jumper by senior forward Andrea Arsenault (Dover, NH) at 5:58. Muller then initiated the run with a lay-up and scored five points during the 15-0 spurt that put Tufts up by 19 at the half. Muller had 11 points at the break overall. Arsenault lead Keene with eight.
The final 17-point margin was the closest that Keene would get in the second half, which started sluggishly on both sides. Tufts led by as many as 28 points, 63-35, on a three by Muller at 5:35. Morse finished with 11 second-half points for Keene.
Tufts owned a huge 47-34 advantage in rebounds, with junior forward Allison Love (Duxbury, MA) grabbing nine to go with 10 points. Senior center Erin Buckley (East Sandwich, MA) finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks.
The Owls were 18 for 21 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line in the game. Morse hit all five of her freebies, while Arsenault was six for six and finished with 14 points. However, the visitors shot a dreadful 25.5 percent (14/55) from the floor, including one for 12 from three-point territory (8.3%).
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