Carla Berube has meticulously crafted a basketball program in her own image.

“Toughness is No. 1 . . . gritty . . . I was kind of a blue-collar worker in college, and I want my players to play like that,’’ said Berube, who as a sophomore in 1995 was a key reserve on UConn’s Rebecca Lobo-led squad that captured the program’s first of 10 national championships.

In her 14th season in Medford, she has Tufts (28-3) playing on a grand stage with which she is very much familiar, and comfortable. The Jumbos make their first appearance in the NCAA Division 3 national title game Monday night in Indian­apolis against juggernaut Thomas More College (32-0).

“Play hard, play together, and that is what this team has done,’’ said Berube. “They have rallied around each other, and played with a chip on their shoulder.’’

Sporting the No. 2 scoring defense in Division 3 (44.8 points per game), the Jumbos shrugged off a pair of first-semester losses by going 22-1 since Dec. 29, the most recent a 63-50 semifinal win over Wartburg (Iowa) on March 19 in Colu­mbus, Ohio. The victory was No. 300 for Berube in 384 games.

As part of the NCAA’s 35th anniversary celebration of women’s basketball, Tufts will take the court at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the shared site of the finals for Division 1 (Tuesday) and Division 3 (Monday).

“It is amazing really, to finally break through this year, get over that hump, and be part of the Division 1 Final Four,’’ said Berube, whose squad was denied in the national semifinals the past two years.

“I am thankful for the NCAA for putting this together. I told my team, I have been here before, I know what it is like, enjoy every single second, but there is a job to do on Monday night.’’

The job will be formidable.

Thomas More, situated two hours from Indianapolis in Crestview Hills, Ky., has ripped off 65 straight victories. Paced by 5-foot-10-inch senior wing Sydney Moss (22.4 points per game), the three-time Division 3 national player of the year, the Saints are averaging a staggering 92.2 ppg.

“We have to keep them in the 60s, that is the goal, and we have to score more than we typic­ally do [60.2 ppg],’’ said Berube. “We have to take care of the ball and take really good shots.’’

The Jumbos will pressure the perimeter with guards Lauren Dillon and Emma Roberson, a pair of lockdown defenders, and lean on first-team All-America junior forward Michela North (14.3 points, 10.4 rebounds per game).

With 16 days off, Tufts took advantage of the extra rest, addressing lingering injuries and focusing on one foe.

“All of our practices thus far have been really, really great,’’ said Berube.

On Saturday, the Jumbos worked out at Butler Univer­sity’s famed Hinkle Fieldhouse.

“They know what is at stake,’’ said Berube. “I am excited for this team to get here, and soak it all in.’’

Craig Larson can be reached at craig.larson@globe.com.