The women’s basketball team lost at home to nationally ranked Tufts University by a score of 87-43. 

Tufts came into the game ranked second in Division III, and head coach Bill Gould knew the Lions faced a challenge on Tuesday. 

“They’re No. 2 in the country for a reason,” Gould said in a post-game interview. “That doesn’t mean you can’t play like you’re better than that team, and I don’t think we played that way.”

The Jumbos scored 24 points in the first quarter and shot over 50 percent from the field. Tufts turned seven first quarter turnovers by the Lions into ten points and continued their hot shooting in the second quarter with four three-pointers, increasing its lead to 27.

Gould said the team did not enter the game with the right mentality. 

“You have to play with confidence,” Gould said. “Confidence is not saying ‘We’re better than that team.’ The issue is, do we play like we can compete and we can beat them and make them bring their A-game?”

The Lions played their most efficient offense in the third quarter, scoring 15 points and shooting a game-high 40 percent. Senior guard Kate Foultz scored six points in the quarter, and junior forward Sam Boyle scored four, but Tufts made four more three pointers and increased their lead to 38. 

After allowing 24 points or more in the previous three quarters, the Lions held the Jumbos to 13 points in the fourth. 

Gould said he is proud of the way his players competed. 

“I give them credit,” Gould said. “They played hard. There’s no question about that.”

Senior guard Quinn Madden scored 12 points and shot 55 percent from the field while recording four assists. Boyle scored eight points and led the team in rebounding with four.

Gould said he would like to see the team respond better to challenging opponents. 

“There’s no one in our league that’s this good,” Gould said. “But teams are good in our league, and if we play afraid, or if we play down, or we don’t focus on the things that we need to, there are teams that are good enough to beat us.”

The Lions play their next game at home on Saturday, Dec. 7 against Bridgewater State University at noon.