Garnet Sweep Mules
Kristen Lee '05 scored a team-high 16 points and Radiance Walters '06 tallied another double-double as Swarthmore outlasted Muhlenberg 63-61 in Tarble Pavilion on Tuesday night.
The win marked the first season sweep of the Mules (9-12, 5-9 CC) in Swarthmore school history. The Garnet defeated Muhlenberg 85-82 in Allentown, Pa. on January 20th in the first contest.
The Garnet raced out to a 10-2 lead following back to back three-pointers by Lee and Jessica Fuhr '07 at the 15:37 mark. The Mules came right back with a Gwen Doyle three-pointer, a Lacie Smith bucket, and a three-pointer from Tiffany Kirk to cut the lead to 12-10 with 13:00 in the half.
The two squads played even for much of the first half, with Swarthmore getting most of their buckets from beyond the arc (7-13 in the first half). The Garnet closed the half with three-pointers from Lee and Fuhr to take a 31-25 advantage.
Kristen Piscadlo scored the opening bucket of the second half, closing the Mules to within 31-27. Swarthmore answered with consecutive baskets by Debbie Farrelly '06, Walters and Fuhr to push the lead to ten, the largest of the night.
Swarthmore pushed the lead to 61-53 on Kristen Lee jumper with 3:14 to go in the game. Stephanie Coluccini made four consecutive free throws while Walters missed both of hers, closing the Mules to within four with two minutes left.
The Garnet broke through the Muhlenberg press and Walters finished off a lay-up to put Swarthmore up 63-57. Piscadlo raced up the floor and finished off a lay-up of her own to make it 63-59 Garnet with 1:38 left.
Following a Mules time-out and a Garnet turnover, Lacie Smith finished off a twisting lay-up with 52 seconds left. Muhlenberg got the ball back and called their final time-out with 27 seconds to go.
Colluccini looked to establish position at the high post, only to see Ali Wolff '05 step in front of the pass, forcing Colluccini to foul.
Wolff, the leading free throw shooter in the Centennial Conference at 79%, hit back iron on her first attempt. The Mules got the rebound and looked for a quick shot. Farrelly committed a foul with 4.1 showing on the clock, and Muhlenberg set up an inbounds play for the final shot with the score 63-61.
The ball ended up in Valerie Robuck's hands at the top of the key and she was fouled while shooting by Walters. Robuck rimmed out on her first attempt and the Garnet took a time-out. Robuck intentionally missed the second one but the Mules were unable to corral the rebound in time for another shot.
Smith led the Mules with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Kirk shot 4 for 6 from three-point land for 14 points. Collucini grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds while Doyle added nine points.
With the win, Swarthmore (13-7, 9-5 CC) takes over sole possession of fourth place in the Centennial Conference over idle Gettysburg. Walters recorded her eighth double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Fuhr chipped in 10 points.
The Garnet travel to Reading. Pa. on Thursday evening for a non-conference game at Alvernia College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.