Tufts University's Molly Ryan calmly sank two free throws with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter and lifted the Jumbos to a 63-62 NESCAC win against the Hamilton College Continentals at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Friday night.

The Continentals (10-6, 0-3) had taken a 62-61 lead on a 3-pointer by Kelcie Zarle '22 with 10 seconds remaining. Zarle's basket gave Hamilton its first advantage since the Continentals were up 44-39 with 6:26 to go in the third quarter. Tufts went on a 10-0 run during the next two minutes and held a 53-47 lead going into the last 10 minutes. After Ryan's free throws, another Hamilton shot from beyond the arc was off the mark just as the final buzzer sounded.

The Jumbos (15-0, 2-0) are ranked No. 1 in both the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division III Top 25 poll. Tufts led 18-14 after one quarter but trailed 36-34 at the half. Neither team led by more than eight points and there were 12 ties and 14 lead changes.

Liz Arnold '22 paced the Continentals with 17 points and handed out four assists. Zarle dropped in 16 points and Kayla Glemaud '21 filled the stat sheet with 11 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots. Scout Lansing '21 dished out four assists. Hamilton owned a 16-8 advantage in second-chance points.

Erica DeCandido nearly had a double-double for the Jumbos but had to settle for 17 points and nine boards. Lilly Paro knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points and two blocks off the bench. Ryan contributed 10 points, seven steals and five assists. Tufts enjoyed a 40-32 advantage on the glass and went 13-for-14 at the free-throw line.

After an old-fashioned 3-point play by DeCandido tied the score at 39-39 with 7:55 left in the third quarter, Arnold scored five straight points and handed the Continentals their largest lead at 44-39 about 90 seconds later. The Jumbos responded with their big run and led by at least three points or more for the next 11-plus minutes.

A layup by DeCandido midway through the fourth quarter gave Tufts an eight-point cushion at 59-51. Hamilton countered with an 8-0 run and forged the last tie of the night. Arnold found Mackenzie Aldridge '20 for a 3-pointer and Carly O'Hern '20 pulled the Continentals within two on another basket from long range with 2:45 remaining. The Jumbos misfired on a 3-point attempt on their next possession and Zarle came back down and drained a jumper with 1:52 to go.

Hamilton hosts Bates College (9-6, 1-1) for another NESCAC game on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m.