Berk Nets 21 as Mules Trot Past Garnet
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Swarthmore junior center Karen Berk (above, right) had a game-high 21 points and tied the school block record as the Garnet (3-5 overall, 0-3 CC) fell to the defending Centennial Conference Champion Muhlenberg Mules 74-47 in Memorial Hall Tuesday evening.
Muhlenberg (6-0 overall, 3-0 CC) got off to a blistering start, clipping off a 16-0 run by making four straight three-pointers to open the game. Swarthmore freshman Pamela Costello sank one of her two three-pointers on the evening at 16:50 to end the drought. The Mules pushed the lead to as large as 20 points in the first half, shooting 52.6% from the field on their way to a 47-29 lead at intermission.
Muhlenberg could do little about Berk, who shot 7-of-10 from the field for 15 first-half points. The Swarthmore junior ended the evening 10-for-14 from the floor while grabbing seven rebounds with two blocks. The pair of swats gives Berk 74 for her career, tying her with Jen Truscott '88 for the career record at Swarthmore and putting her in the top-25 all-time in the Centennial Conference. Her 2.80 blocks per game average (22 total) this season currently leads the Centennial.
The Mules' pressure in the second half led to 14 Swarthmore turnovers and Muhlenberg held a 42-30 advantage on the backboards to remain unblemished this season.
Garnet freshman Amber Wantman and Costello chipped in six points apiece while senior Jess Fuhr tied Berk for team-high with seven boards.
Swarthmore returns to cozy Tarble Pavilion this Saturday, Dec. 9, welcoming Centennial rival Franklin & Marshall for a 2:00 p.m. game.