#22 Red Devils Handcuff Garnet
Foul-plagued Swarthmore saw their seven-game win streak come to end on Saturday afternoon, as the 22nd-ranked Dickinson College defeated the Garnet 61-49 in Carlisle, Pa.
Swarthmore jumped out to an early 10-4 lead following two Radiance Walters' free throws with 15:23 on the clock. The Garnet lead swelled to as many as eight, 21-13, following a Debra Farrelly '06 lay-up at the 8:32 mark.
The Red Devils (18-2, 13-1 CC) extended the trademark half-court pressure the length of the floor, igniting a 15-7 run to end the half. The Garnet committed 15 turnovers in the first half alone, but were able to benefit from 48% shooting from the floor to enter the intermission with the score knotted 28-28.
The second half belonged to Dickinson as Swarthmore was forced to play the majority of the second half with their top two scorers, Walters and freshman stand-out Karen Berk '08, on the bench with four fouls apiece.
The Red Devils used advantage inside to open up a 45-37 lead following a lay-up by Laura Houseal with 10:09 left. Dickinson's pressure proved too much for Swarthmore on this day, creating 29 Garnet turnovers for the game, allowing the Red Devils to extend their lead to as many as a dozen, late in the second half.
Dickinson, shooting 60% from the charity stripe as a team, sank six consecutive free throws in the closing minutes to remain undefeated on their home court in 2004-05. Megan Shelley led the Red Devils with 14 points and six steals, while the front court duo of Allyson Teatom and Houseal combined for 23 points, 20 rebounds, and six steals.
Swarthmore (12-7, 8-5 CC) was led by senior co-captain Kristen Lee, who was eight for thirteen for a game-high 16 points. Walters, back in the lineup after missing three games with an eye injury, chipped in 11 points and five boards.
The Garnet return to the hardwood on Tuesday, February 8th at 7:00 p.m. when they host Muhlenberg College in a key Centennial Conference match-up.