Generals Survive Garnet Charge
Sophomore Karen Berk scored a game-high 23 points and senior captain Jen Stevenson added 14 for Swarthmore, but the Garnet were unable to subdue the Washington & Lee in the first round of the 2005 Swarthmore Tip Off Tournament. The Generals improve to 1-0 with the 67-60 win over host Swarthmore.
The Garnet came out cold in the first half, missing their first 11 shots of the game. Washington and Lee built a 16-0 lead before Stevenson put the team on the board with a free throw at 14:19.
Senior captain Debbie Farrelly sank the first Garnet field goal at 11:34, but the Generals' Kara Nadeau answered with back-to-back buckets and forced Swarthmore coach Renee DeVarney to call a time-out. Although the Garnet grabbed 10 steals before halftime, they were able to convert on the other end. Stevenson contributed 12 points and 4 rebounds for the Garnet in the first half, but the team never got closer than 14 going into the break.
Washington and Lee center Jessica Hunsinger led W&L with 12 points and eight rebounds going into the intermission. The Generals ended the half with a 40-25 lead over the Garnet.
After the break, Washington & Lee continued to penetrate the Garnet defense, keeping a comfortable lead until midway through the half. Berk put the Garnet on her back, shooting eight for nine from the floor in the second half. She grabbed an offensive board at 11:54 and converted it for two points. A minute later, she seized another offensive rebound and put it back in, cutting W&L's lead to twelve.
Swarthmore forced 16 steals during the game and took advantage of the Generals' mistakes in the second half. With 1:29 remaining in the game, Stevenson converted a bucket after an opponent turnover and pulled the Garnet closer, 62-56. Swarthmore fought back in the last 40 seconds of the game, but they would not get any closer than five points
The Generals sealed the win with 3 free throws in the last twenty seconds. Hunsinger finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds while teammate Nadeau notched 12 points on five for seven shooting.
Berk and senior captain Radiance Walters contributed eight and five rebounds, respectively, and Stevenson added six boards and four steals.
The Generals move onto the tournament championship Sunday at 4 p.m. against the Eagles of Mary Washington. The Garnet fall to 0-1 and will face Trinity College (CT) in the consolation game of the Tournament on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Tarble Pavilion.
Swarthmore/W&L Box