Garnet, Lady Generals to Meet for Swat Tip Off Championship
SWARTHMORE, PA - Swarthmore junior center Karen Berk had a game-high 23 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Garnet (1-0) over visiting Eastern 65-53 in opening round action of the Ninth Annual Swat Tip Off Tournament held at Swarthmore College Saturday night.
Swarthmore will face Washington & Lee (VA) in the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 4:00 p.m.
In the first game, W&L got 16 points and eight rebounds from junior forward Kristen Krouchick and held CCNY to 21% shooting from the floor on its way to a 62-24 victory.
Krouchick shot six for 11 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, while adding a game-high four steals and two assists for the Lady Generals (1-0). Guard Emily Wolff chipped in 11 points while guard Brittany Ridenhour added 10 points. Johanna Ortiz led CCNY (0-1) with 12 points while Doreen Martin collected 10 boards for the Beavers.
The Lady Generals raced out to a 13-2 lead in the first five minutes, behind strong perimeter shooting. An Ortiz jumper in the lane at 6:02 cut the lead to 23-13 W&L. The Lady Generals closed the first half on an 11-1 run to assume a 34-14 lead at halftime. Krouchick led all scorers with 10 points in the first half.
Washington & Lee pushed its advantage to 48-20 with 13:34 left in the half on a pair of free throws from Kaitlyn Kamp. Kassie Goodwin sank a long jumper for CCNY at 10:40 to make it 48-24 W&L clamped down on the Beavers defensively, keeping CCNY from putting up another basket the remainder of the night.
The Lady Generals advance into the championship game for the second consecutive year W&L lost to Mary Washington 60-51 in 2005.
Swarthmore makes its seventh appearance in the championship after sinking 28 of 36 shots from the free throw line and forcing 22 Eastern turnovers in the season opener for both squads. It was the first time the Garnet have put in 28 shots from the charity stripe since Feb. 1, 2000 at Washington (Md.).
The Eagles (0-1) had an eight-point lead, 23-15, at 4:54 following a jumper by Joelle DeCarlo. Swarthmore proceeded to whip off an 11-3 run to end the half with a 26-25 advantage. The Garnet kept the momentum rolling in the second half as senior Jess Fuhr knocked down a triple on the first possession to set off a 14-4 run for the first four minutes. Freshman Pam Costello (10 points, seven rebounds) capped off the run with a pair of free throws.
The story of the night was the overwhelming presence of Berk - the 6-1 forward hit 11 of 14 from the line, six for 13 from the field, grabbed eight offensive rebounds, tallied a four steals, and posted three blocks. Freshman guard Amber Wantman chipped in 17 points and a game-high five steals in her collegiate debut while Fuhr added 12 points on the wing.
Eastern senior guard Raya Shores led the Eagles with 20 points, freshman Emily Reeser chipped in 13 points and freshman Hannah Tobin collected 10 boards.
Tip Off Results
Saturday, November 18
Swarthmore 65, Eastern 53
Washington & Lee 62, CCNY 24
Sunday, November 20
Championship (4:00 p.m.) - Swarthmore vs. Washington & Lee
Consolation - (2:00 p.m.) - CCNY vs. Eastern