Super Sophs Swamp Fords
HAVERFORD, Pa. -- Garnet sophomore center Karen Berk scored a game-high 26 points and classmate Laura Popovics added a career-high 19 points as Swarthmore (7-7 overall, 4-5 CC) defeated Haverford 72-57 Wednesday evening on Rivalry Night in the Centennial Conference.
The Garnet, winners of 16 straight now over the Fords (2-14 overall, 0-9 CC), jumped out to a 10-4 lead following a lay-up by senior forward Cara Tigue at 15:06. Haverford fought back to tie the game at 18-18 with a jumper by Abbie Scattergood with 6:07 left in the half.
Swarthmore raced off a 18-6 run to end the half, mostly off the production from Popovics. The sophomore contributed ten of the points on the run, including 5-of-7 from the free throw line and 2-of-3 from beyond the three-point line to end the half with 13 points.
The Garnet entered the locker room at halftime with a 36-24 lead.
The second half belonged to Berk; the sophomore forward dropped in 17 second-half points helping the Garnet build a lead that would get as large as 24 (56-32 with 12:45 remaining).
An aggressive Fords' defense and poor foul shooting by the Garnet allowed Haverford to cut the Swarthmore lead to 60-48 with 4:23 following freshman forward Brittany Lattisaw's lay-up.
Swarthmore shot 21-of-35 (60%) from the line for the game.
Berk scored eight of the next 11 Garnet points to clinch the win for Swarthmore.
Tigue grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds and added seven points while senior guard Jennifer Stevenson chipped in 10 points.
Lattisaw led the Fords with 13 points and 14 rebounds while senior forward Katie Crowley dropped in 11 points.
For its next game, Swarthmore travels to Ursinus College on Saturday, January 21. The women tip off at 1:00 p.m. and will be followed by the men at 3:00 p.m.