MEDFORD, Mass. - The Worcester State University women's basketball team hung tough with the nation's sixth-ranked team, but suffered a 65-49 loss to Tufts University Wednesday evening in non-conference action at Cousens Gymnasium.
With the loss, the Lancers fall to 11-5 on the season. The Jumbos improve to 15-1.
Tufts outscored the Lancers 16-9 in each of the game's first two quarters to take a 32-18 lead into the locker room. Junior Catherine Sweeney (Lowell, Mass.) led the Lancers with eight points in the first half, but a balanced attack from the Jumbos carried them into the break with the advantage.
Worcester State outscored Tufts by a margin of 18-17 to head to the fourth quarter trailing by 13. Sophomore Colleen Cutting (Auburn, Mass.) scored each of her seven points in the quarter to lead all players, while senior Kaitlyn Berkel (Waterford, Conn.) put home six points.
Tufts closed out Worcester State with a 16-13 scoring edge in the fourth quarter en route to the victory. Berkel's six points were most among all players in the period.
Berkel led the Lancers with 12 points in the losing effort, all coming in the second half. Sweeney finished just behind her with 10 points, while Tufts' Molly Ryan (Westfield, N.J.) finished as the game's leading scorer with 13 points.
Next up for the Lancers, they will take on Fitchburg State in MASCAC action at 2 p.m. Tufts plays Bates in NESCAC play the same day, set to tip off at 3 p.m. at Cousens Gymnasium.
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