With 1 minute, 42 seconds remaining in the women's basketball game against Tufts University at home last Sunday, the Judges trailed 49-43 after coming back from a 13-point deficit earlier in the half. As Tufts came off a 30-second time-out, they fought through the Brandeis full-court press to knock in a 5-foot jumper. The Judges responded with fury, kicking the ball out to guard Lauren Rashford '10 on the left flank. Rashford dropped a 3-pointer to bring the Judges within 5 points for the first time in the second half, but the team could not salvage the comeback, losing their first game of the season 60-50 and dropping the team's record to 5-1 after it defeated Wellesley College last Tuesday.

Tufts' high-energy game appeared to be more than the Judges could handle. Coach Carol Simon's squad appeared sluggish, failing to decisively move toward the ball or box out on rebounds. Including several turnovers on offensive pass attempts, Brandeis turned the ball over 20 times, more than twice as much as the Jumbos.

Once again leading the team with 13 points and nine rebounds was guard Jessica Chapin '10, who commented on the Judges' sloppy offense.

"We just didn't play our game; we let Tufts control the tempo," Chapin said. "They started out quick[ly]. ... We kept fighting back. but we just couldn't get over the top. We were playing Tufts ball, not ours."

The Jumbos took a 13-point lead, their largest of the game, midway through the second half. Brandeis responded by bringing the score back within 10 and eventually 5 on Rashford's 3-pointer but was unable to make much headway.

Rashford suggested improved confidence in games and more intensity in practice would help the team once again rise to victory.

"It's really about playing in practice the same as we do in games," Rashford said. "Those same mistakes that we make in practice are the same mistakes that are going to show up when it counts."

Particularly important to Rashford was that she and the team knew which personnel would be on the court at any given moment in the game.

Guard Diana Cincotta '11 notched an additional 11 points and five rebounds in the loss.

Before the loss to Tufts, the Judges won their third straight road game in a 64-52 victory at Wellesley. Delivering a game-high 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, Chapin led the way for Brandeis and moved into the program's top 10 all-time scoring list with 971 career points.

Guard Morgan Kendrew '12 notched 17 points, one rebound and two assists, while guard Carmela Breslin '10 contributed a dozen more points, three assists and a rebound.

Breslin noted the importance of Chapin as an offensive force.

"Obviously she's one of those players whose hands you want the ball in," she said. "And she wants the ball in her hands. So when time's running down a lot of the plays revolve around her."

Kendrew reiterated Breslin's words, adding that "more individual players need to have confidence, myself included, so that when the ball is in our hands we know we can shoot and make it count."

Rashford chimed in, adding that more players taking on leadership roles will help in conference play against strong defensive opponents that may focus on shutting down Chapin.

"We all need to step it up," Rashford said. "There will be times when we won't be able to rely on [Chapin] as our only option."

Chapin was in tune with Rashford, accrediting much of her scoring potential to the loss of several key players last year alongside the multitalented 2009 to 2010 squad.

"We need to look to other players on the team now," said Chapin. "Players like [Kendrew], [center Kasey Gieschen '10] and [foward Amber Strodthoff '11]."

The Judges took an early 31-7 lead and finished the half in control leading the Blue 36-14. Brandeis led by as many as 26 in last Tuesday's game, staving off a ferocious Wellesley offensive attack in the second half.

The Blue outscored the Judges 38-28 in the second half, bringing the score within double-digits in the final two minutes.

With Wellesley closing in and the score 57-49, Chapin knocked down a 3-point shot that would help secure the Judges' fifth win of the season 64-52.

The Judges play tonight at 7 p.m. at Emmanuel College and Friday afternoon on the road at 3 p.m. against Roger Williams University.