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MEDFORD, Mass. -- Senior guard Liz Moynihan hit a desperation three-pointer as time expired to give Tufts University a 57-54 overtime victory over the University of New England in a second-round game of the 2014 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship on Saturday evening (Mar. 8) at Cousens Gym.

The Jumbos (28-1), ranked fourth and sixth in two national polls, advance to the sectional round for the third consecutive season and will await word on whether or not they will host the Sweet Sixteen next Friday and Saturday (March 14-15). The Nor'easters conclude the school's most successful season with a record of 27-3.

Moynihan's buzzer-beater was her lone field goal of the evening on nine attempts. After a UNE shot-clock violation with 4.6 seconds remaining, the Jumbos had the ball out on the side in their own backcourt. Moynihan received the inbounds pass, took a few dribbles into the frontcourt and got off an off-balance shot from just outside the arc to barely beat the buzzer.

Just 78 seconds earlier, Tufts junior point guard Kelsey Morehead had knocked down her third three-pointer to tie the match at 54-all.

Junior forward Hayley Kanner had 16 points, 17 rebounds, and five blocked shots for the Jumbos. Senior guard Caitlin McClure was the only other Tufts player in double figures, scoring eight of her 10 points after halftime. Morehead contributed nine points, six assists, and five rebounds, while first-year forward Michela North added seven points, eight caroms, two blocks, and two steals off the bench.

Sophomore guards Meghan Gribbin and Lauren Hayden scored 19 and 18 points, respectively, for Big Blue. Gribbin was 7 of 13 from the floor, including a pair of three-pointers. Hayden tallied 14 points after halftime to match her career-best output of 18 points. She filled the stat sheet once again, registering nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Junior forward Kelly Coleman added nine points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Tufts held the advantage for the early portion of the 2nd half, but Gribbin nailed a corner trey with 6:30 left to swing the lead (44-43) to the Nor'easters. After some free throws and empty trips both ways, a layup by Hayden pushed the gap to four (48-44) at the 2:48 mark.

Kanner got a basket down low with 1:37 on the clock and calmly knocked down a pair of free throws with 0:30 left in regulation to tie things up.

UNE had the final possession of the frame and worked the ball inside for the waning seconds, but Kanner came up with a rejection to force overtime.

Once Hayden started the extra session with another hoop in the paint, Kanner responded with her lone three-pointer of the contest from the top of the arc to make it 51-50.

Coleman drew a foul on the ensuing play and dropped in both freebies. The Big Blue margin was still one (52-51) following two Tufts turnovers, and Gribbin capitalized with a swish on a turnaround jumper with 1:39 to play to bump the cushion to three.

The Jumbos chased down a pair of offensive rebounds on their next possession, which resulted in Morehead's game-tying triple that set-up the drama of the final minute.

Early on, the hosts raced out to an 8-0 lead with 2:10 gone. UNE battled back to go up 13-12 at the 6:40 mark, and the teams traded the advantage until Tufts booked a 20-19 edge at halftime.

Gribbin found Hayden for a basket to open the 2nd period (21-20), but the Jumbos got their lead right back when McClure and Morehead connected from deep to establish the biggest lead for either side (five) after the beginning of the game.


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