MEDFORD, Mass. — The Tufts University women’s basketball team won its second consecutive New England Small College Athletic Conference title on Sunday, pulling away from Bowdoin in the second half of a 68-52 victory at Cousens Gym.

Top-seeded Tufts (26-1) earned the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The second-seeded Polar Bears (23-4), who were playing in their 10th NESCAC title game, are likely to receive an at-large bid when selections are announced later today.

Bowdoin was led by 15 points and 12 rebounds from junior Shannon Brady. Four Jumbos scored in double digits, led by 16 points from junior Emma Roberson.

Tufts never trailed, but weren’t able to pull away until well into the second half. Bowdoin was within seven, 41-34, on a jumper by senior Siena Mitman with 12:33 remaining in regulation. Tufts used a 12-4 run over the next five minutes to lead by 15 (53-38) on a lay-up by North.

The Polar Bears whittled the margin down to 10, 54-44, when senior tri-captain Sara Binkhorst scored a lay-up with 5:48 on the clock. Roberson, on her way to matching a career-high for points, hit a trey in response.

Bowdoin freshman Kate Kerrigan had nine points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.

On Saturday in the NESCAC semifinals, the Polar Bears jumped out to a big first-half lead and held on for a 74-66 win over No. 3 Amherst.

Bowdoin led 43-22 at the half. Brady paced Bowdoin with a game-high 22 points, while sophomore Meredith Doswell had 14 for Amherst (22-3).

The Polar Bears scored 11 unanswered points for an 18- 7 lead. Bowdoin shot 54.8- percent from the floor in the first half and outrebounded the Jeffs, 20-12 in the first 20 minutes.

Amherst chipped away in the second half, getting to 52- 41 on a pair of free throws by Ali Doswell.

Bowdoin pushed the advantage back to 19, 68-49.

Binkhorst chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Kerrigan had four steals.

Bowdoin men

Fifth-seeded Amherst College received 42 points off the bench for a 76-56 NESCAC semifinal win over No. 2 Bowdoin on Saturday at Hartford, Conn.

The Polar Bears fell to 18-8 and will await today’s NCAA Division III Tournament announcement in the hopes of an at-large bid.

Lucas Hausman put up a team-high 21 points for the Polar Bears in the loss, while John Swords had 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Bryan Hurley had 12 points and six assists for Bowdoin.

Amherst knocked down 10 treys in the game and were paced by a pair of reserves — Jayde Dawson (21 points) and Jeff Racy (16 points). The Jeffs reserves outscored Bowdoin’s bench 42-0 in the contest.

Bowdoin had a 14-13 lead following a Swords lay-up midway through the opening period, but Amherst used a 16-2 run to take control.

The Jeffs carried a 38-24 lead into the break and the teams traded buckets for the opening minutes of the second half. But, a late Jeffs run pushed the lead to as many as 26 points as Amherst closed out the win.