Tide Wash Away Shorewomen
Radiance Walters '06 collected her sixth double-double of the season as Swarthmore benefitted from a large rebounding advantage to defeat Washington College (Md.) 74-51 on Wednesday night in Centennial Conference action.
The Garnet took a 13-5 advantage following two free throws by Debra Farrelly '06 with 14:38 remaining in the first half. The Shorewomen fought back to tie the game at 18, knotting the score on a Regina Barrett three-pointer at the 8:23 mark.
The two squads traded the lead three more times before a Karen Berk '08 lay-up and a three-pointer by Jennifer Stevenson '06 gave Swarthmore a 29-24 lead with 2:33 to go in the half.
Barrett sank another trey a minute later, only to see Farrelly answer with a three-pointer of her own to push the Garnet lead back to five. Irene Pastorino converted a lay-up with two seconds remaining to cut the Swarthmore lead to 32-29 at half.
The Garnet came out of the locker room fired up, pouring a 31-6 run on Washington to take a comfortable 63-35 lead following a nifty lay-up by Laura Popovics with 8:59 left in the game.
Swarthmore (5-4, 2-2 CC) enjoyed a 51-24 advantage on the glass for the contest, including a season-high 23 offensive boards. The Garnet defense, tops in the Centennial Conference, put the clamps on the Shorewomen in the second half, giving up only six field goals and forcing 10 Washington turnovers.
Popovics contributed 12 points and four steals, while Farrelly added a season-high 11 points and five assists. Berk finished with 10 points, five boards, and two blocks while fellow front-court mate Alison Wolff '05 added eight points and seven boards. Cara Tigue '06 posted a career-high six points, while grabbing four rebounds and two assists in ten minutes of action.
Swarthmore returns to Tarble Pavilion on Saturday, January 8th when they host Centennial Conference rival Dickinson College in a 2:00 p.m. contest.