Garnet Crush Fords, Clinch Berth
Senior co-captains Alison Wolff and Kristen Lee led four players in double digit scoring as Swarthmore downed Haverford 73-42 to clinch their fifth Centennial Conference playoff berth in six years.
The Garnet benefited from 43% shooting in the first half to establish a 37-15 lead at the intermission. Swarthmore's defense held the Fords to 20.8% shooting and registered 12 steals, five from frosh forward Karen Berk, while forcing 16 Haverford turnovers.
Wolff shot six for seven from the field and sank both free throws, while corralling nine rebounds and swiping three steals. Lee also enjoyed a good shooting night, going five for eight from the field and three for three from the line. The shooting guard handed out a game-high four assists in the process.
Guards Debra Farrelly '06 and Jessica Fuhr '07 were the other Swarthmore players in double digits, scoring 11 points a piece as the Garnet finish the regular season 15-10 overall, and 11-7 in the conference.
Swarthmore was without forward Radiance Walters '06, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, out with a leg injury incurred against Gettysburg on Saturday. Forwards Cara Tigue '06 and co-captain Lauren Kett '05 provided the necessary spark off the bench, combining for twelve points and 17 rebounds. Tigue grabbed a career-high nine boards and sank four of six from the line for the Garnet.
The Fords (4-19, 1-16 CC) were led by Erica Juliano with 12 points, while guard Meredith Foote added 10 points.
Swarthmore last appeared in the Centennial playoffs in 2002-03, falling in the semi-finals 69-55 at Johns Hopkins. With their eleven wins in Centennial action, the Garnet move into a fourth-place tie on the all-time Centennial Conference list with ninety-nine wins, pushing their all-time record over the .500 mark (99-92) in the process.
With Gettysburg's 86-83 loss to Dickinson on Tuesday night, the Garnet clinch the #4 seed, earning the right to host the Bullets on Thursday, February 24th in opening round action of the 2005 Centennial Conference playoffs. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.