The top-ranked New York University women's basketball team used a fourth-quarter spurt to hold off #16 Tufts University and go on to a 79-63 victory on Saturday, December 9, at the John A. Paulson Center in Manhattan.

NYU (8-0) was ahead by just two points, 55-53, early in the final quarter. However, the Violets went on a 14-2 run and held the Jumbos (6-3) to that one bucket over a near-five-minute stretch to clinch the victory.

Belle Pellecchia's free throws with 47 ticks remaining ended the scoring as NYU opened its biggest lead of the game by outscoring Tufts 29-16 over the final 10 minutes.

"It was a big-time fourth quarter for us," said NYU Head Coach Meg Barber. "It came down to wearing them out for 40 minutes and getting stops with our defense at the end." 

The Violets trailed 31-28 in the second quarter, but scored the next 11 points to a take a 39-31 halftime lead.

NYU stayed ahead throughout the third, but led by only three, 50-47, entering the fourth quarter before taking control of the game.

Megan Bauman led the way for NYU with 18 points, doubling her previous high as a Violet. She also led the team with five assists.

"I feel like I'm getting more comfortable in the system and working hard in practice every day," Bauman said. " We knew Tufts was a top team and we had to bring a lot of energy. Everyone needed to be in attack mode."

Also scoring in double-figures for NYU were Morgan Morrison (16 points), Pellecchia (14), and Natalie Bruns (13). Pellecchia also grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds, while Morrison and Bruns had seven and six, respectively. 

"Belle had some unbelievable rebounds to get stops when we really needed them, and that was the difference in the game," Barber added.

Tufts' Maggie Russell led all scorers with 22 points.

"One of the top players in the country," Barber said. 

The Violets return to action this Tuesday, December 12, when they host Brooklyn College back at the Paulson Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm.