Sophomore forward Katie Bierzonski (Camp Hill, PA/Trinity) scored a game-high 23 points to lead the visiting Washington College women's basketball team to a 56-55 Centennial Conference victory over Swarthmore College Tuesday evening. Bierzonski shot 10-for-19 from the floor, and also finished with 10 rebounds, for her second double-double of the season, and a game-high two blocked shots.
The Shorewomen, who have won six out of their last eight, improve to 13-7 overall, and 7-5 in the Centennial. The Garnet drops to 8-11 on the season, and 4-8 in the conference. Muhlenberg College is the top team in the East Division of the Centennial, with a 10-1 conference record. Washington is next, followed by Ursinus College (6-6). The top two teams in the East and West Divisions of the Centennial qualify for the post-season playoffs. Washington and Ursinus both have three conference games remaining, while Muhlenberg has four.
Both teams had dry spells offensively in the second half. Swarthmore did not score from the beginning of the period until the 13:50 mark, and the Shorewomen took a 38-23 lead. Then Washington went cold for a six-minute span, and allowed the Garnet to pull to within six, 38-32, with 10:00 left in the game. Swarthmore could not pull ahead, though, and got no closer than three until the last minute of the game.
The Shorewomen jumped out to a 8-0 advantage at the beginning of the game. The hosts came back with a 11-2 run to take their only lead of the night, 11-10, at the 11:34 mark of the opening half. Washington went ahead again one minute later, and never trailed the rest of the contest. The Shorewomen were up 26-23 at the intermission. Bierzonski scored 14 of her team's 26 first-half points.
Washington senior guard Diane Zeng (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) sparked the Shorewomen's 12-0 run to open the second period, starting the surge with two free throws, and later converting on a three-point play opportunity to give the visitors their biggest lead of the game, 38-23, with 14:09 remaining. Washington held the Garnet scoreless for the first six minutes of the half.
Swarthmore returned the favor, outscoring the Shorewomen, 9-0, in the next three minutes to cut the lead to 38-32 midway through the second. Washington did not score from 14:09 until 8:46. Baskets by Bierzonski and Zeng put the Shorewomen ahead 42-32 with 8:22 left. The momentum swung back and forth for the rest of the game, and the Garnet kept the lead below double figures.
The visitors' biggest advantage in the last five minutes of the game was five points. Washington freshman forward Allyson Britton (Wilmington, DE/St. Elizabeth) scored six straight points for her team in a span of two minutes, but the Garnet answered every basket, cutting the lead down to three each time.
With :44 left, Swarthmore freshman guard Katie Tarr (Glen Mills, PA/Garnet Valley) nailed a three-pointer to reduce the deficit to 55-53. Bierzonski sunk a free throw ten seconds later to put the Shorewomen ahead 56-53. The final margin was one following a basket by freshman center Caitlin Ryland (Ellicott City, MD/Centennial) with :16 remaining.
Following Bierzonski, Britton finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Zeng added nine points, four assists, and a game-high four steals, and matched Bierzonski's rebounding total with a career-high 10 boards of her own. Junior guard Maggy Kilroy (Towson, MD/Notre Dame Prep.) contributed six points, five rebounds, and a game-high five assists.
For Swarthmore, Tarr finished with team-highs of 15 points and four assists, plus seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Heather Marandola (Madison, ME/Madison) added 12 points. Freshman forward Heather Kile (Marlton, NJ/Holy Cross) contributed 10 points, and also pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds. Ryland chipped in with eight points and eight rebounds.
All three of the Shorewomen's remaining games are Centennial Conference contests. Washington travels to Haverford College Saturday night for a 7 p.m. start. The last home contest of the regular season for the Shorewomen is next Tuesday, against Ursinus, at 7 p.m. Washington closes out the regular season next Saturday at Bryn Mawr at 1 p.m.
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