MEDFORD, Mass. – The Hamilton College Continentals shot 59.6% from the field, including 53.3% from 3-point range, on their way to a big 81-64 NESCAC win over the Tufts University Jumbos on Tufts' Tye Court inside Cousens Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb 7.
Season Update
- Hamilton (11-11, 3-5 NESCAC) split its last four games -- all played on the road.
- Tufts (12-10, 4-5) had won five of its previous six games, including each of its last three.
How It Happened
- Hamilton scored the first five points with the help of layups by Maggie Kernodle '29 and Taylor Lambo '26. Kernodle's third basket of the opening quarter gave the Continentals a 9-2 advantage with 4:24 left. Tufts' Tess Lozner converted a layup with 3:38 left and cut the Jumbos' deficit to 11-6.
- Hamilton scored the final five points of the quarter with an old-fashioned 3-point play by Lambo and a layup by Zoe Myslewicz '28 off a feed from Kendall Harris '27.
- Hamilton outscored the Jumbos 27-16 and shot a scorching 71.4% from the field in the second quarter, converting 10-of-14 field goal attempts, including 5-of-6 3-pointers. Harris scored 11 points in the quarter on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the field.
- Hamilton began the quarter with a 5-0 burst for a 21-6 advantage with 9:14 left. Tufts scored the next six points with two triples and cut its deficit back to single digits. A 3-pointer by Claire Kolkhorst made it 29-22 with 2:46 left.
- Hamilton converted its next five shots and closed the quarter on a 14-0 run for a 43-22 lead at halftime. Harris, Kernodle and Althea Hill '26 connected from long range during the stretch, and Harris capped the run with an old-fashioned 3-point play.
- A 3-pointer by Kernodle with 6:43 left in the third quarter extended Hamilton's lead to 50-27. Lozner and Kolkhorst drained triples and cut the Jumbos' deficit to 17 points with 5:01 remaining. Harris responded with her third 3-pointer at the 4:04 mark.
- Hamilton used a 6-0 burst via four straight free throws by Annabelle Semeter '28 and a layup by Abbey Schwoebel '27 for a 61-35 lead with 1:09 left.
- Tufts' Sarah Crossett scored in the paint on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and Lambo scored the final basket of the quarter just before the buzzer and gave Hamilton a 63-39 lead heading into the fourth.
- Harris scored Hamilton's first three baskets of the fourth with two jumpers followed by a layup. The layup marked her eighth consecutive made shot and gave the Continentals a 69-44 lead with 7:23 left.
- Hamilton took its largest lead of 28 points at 80-52 following a free throw by Myslewicz with 2:21 left. Tufts scored the next 12 points and trimmed its deficit to 80-64 with 29 seconds remaining. Mia Semioli '29 scored the final point at the line with 26 seconds left.
Notes
- Hamilton recorded its best field goal percentage in a game in the last 13 seasons, and its best 3-point shooting percentage since Feb. 11, 2023.
- Harris, who became the 12th Continental in program history to surpass 1,000 career points on Feb. 6 at Conn. College, recorded her third 20-point game of the season with 22. She scored in double figures for the 15th straight game and shot a career-best 90% from the field. She also added a game-high four assists.
- Kernodle finished with a season-high 16 points.
- Lambo shot 6-of-8 from the field, 4-for-5 from the line and registered her ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
- Myslewicz tallied eight points, eight rebounds and a career-high four blocks.
- Hill provided eight points off the bench.
- The Continentals' 81 points marks the third-highest total they have recorded in a game this season.
- Hamilton limited Tufts to four free throw attempts, tied for the fewest they have allowed in a game this season.
- Annie Aspesi led the Jumbos with 15 points and three assists.
- Kolkhorst added 14 points and three steals.
- Lozner grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to go along with nine points and three assists.
Next Game
Hamilton returns home to take on Williams College (10-12, 3-5) on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.
