WESTON, MA – Tufts University (4-2) defeated Saint Joseph's (4-2), 76-45, in game two of the Regis College Invitational on Friday night. Senior center Ashley Geel (St. George, Maine) netted nine points to pace the Monks' offensive effort in the loss.

The Jumbos, who will face tourney-host Regis College on Saturday in the championship game at 3:00 PM tomorrow, jumped out to an early 17-4 lead to start the game and never looked back. The Monks will take on Westfield State in the consolation contest at 1:00 PM.

The first half was all Jumbos as they raced out to a 9-0 lead before the Monks finally got on the board thanks to Geel jump shot to make it a 9-2 ball game. Tufts would keep their foot on the gas, however as the Jumbos scored seven straight points to stretch their lead to 16-2 on a triple by Kate Barnosky (Huntington Station, N.Y.).

The Monks would not go away quietly though, as a pair of free throws by Megan McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) made it a 19-12 game with 9:52 remaining in the half. That would be as close as the Monks would get before the Jumbos ended the period on a 25-6 run to enter the break with a 42-18 lead.

Tufts' Kate Barnosky scored 16 points to lead all scorers at the break. The senior missed her first attempt of the game but then made seven-straight shots to close out the frame. Tiffany Kornegay (Carver, Mass.) chipped in with three points, four assists and five rebounds in the first half. The Monks were paced by six points from Lindsay Moore (Somersworth, N.H.) and four points apiece from Ashley Geel and Alyssa Grigware (Biddeford, Maine.).

In the second half, the Jumbos extended their lead to as many as 35 points as the game was never in doubt for Tufts. The Jumbos won the turnover battle, committing 13 errors to St. Joe's 24, leading to a 27-13 advantage in points off turnovers for the Jumbos. Tufts only grabbed three more offensive rebounds (17-14) than the Monks, however, the Jumbos outscored St. Joe's 20-6 in second chance points.

Barnosky scored 19 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting to pace the Jumbos. Hannah Foley (Acton, Mass.) came off the bench to join her in double-figures with 10 points. Kornegay finished the game with eight points, eight rebounds, and five assists while Kelsey Morehead (Foster City, Calif.) added nine points in the win.

For St. Joe's, Grigware added six points and seven rebounds, Moore finished with eight points, and Nicolette Kapothanasis (Westbrook, Maine) added six points and four rebounds in the setback.

Saint Joseph's had never played Tufts in a women's basketball contest prior to this evening. 

COURTESY OF REGIS COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION