Meisenberg Leads Hot-Shooting Diplomats Over Garnet
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Franklin & Marshall sophomore guard Sarah Meisenberg scored a career-high 31 points and classmate Amanda Miceli added 19 points as the Diplomats (3-4 overall, 2-2 CC) shot almost 60% from the field on the way to a 85-49 Centennial victory over hometown Swarthmore Saturday afternoon in Tarble Pavilion.
Swarthmore junior center Karen Berk led the Garnet (3-6 overall, 0-4 CC) with 20 points and 11 rebounds while senior Jess Fuhr added 10 points and two blocks. Berk blocked a Miceli jumper with 1:24 left in the first half to set a new school record for career blocks with 75, breaking the previous record of 74 held by Jen Truscott '88. Berk has now accumulated 843 career points, placing her eighth all-time at Swarthmore - the junior captain also picked up her 21st career double-double on Saturday and Centennial-leading sixth of the season.
It was all Meisenberg in the first half for the Diplomats - the sophomore guard picked up five steals and shot 8-of-11 for 18 points, including six straight to fuel a 15-6 F&M run in the middle of the half. Meisenberg picked up a defensive rebound on consecutive possessions and raced the length of the floor for lay-ups; she hit a 15-foot jumper on the next possession to put the Diplomats on top, 16-12 at 10:18.
Meisenberg continued to pour it on, sinking a three-pointer from the top of the key at 6:59 as F&M pushed its lead to 24-16. The Diplomats took its largest lead of the half, 33-18 when F&M guard Jessica Bishop finished off a drive to the hoop at the two-minute mark. The Garnet got four free throws from Berk and Fuhr to cut the lead to 33-22 but Meisenberg kissed a runner of the glass with five second remaining to send F&M into halftime with a 35-22 lead.
The Diplomats shot 50% from the field and forced 13 Swarthmore turnovers in the first half while the Garnet held a slight edge on the backboards, 18-13.
Berk led the Garnet with eight points and six rebounds while Fuhr added seven points.
F&M busted out in the second half, scoring the first nine points to take a 44-23 lead following a free throw by Miriam Marcis at 16:47. Miceli scored eight straight points, including back-to-back three-pointers, to push F&M ahead 64-33 with 8:32 remaining. The Diplomats' got as large as 37 points (78-41 at 3:22) as F&M won for just the second time in the last six meetings in Tarble Pavilion.
The Diplomats shot a white-hot 59.6 % from the field, including 7-for-10 from three-point land, and collected 13 steals. Swarthmore held a slight 32-31 edge in rebounds, including 12-4 on the offensive glass.
Meisenberg ended the afternoon 13-of-17 with seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals. Her 31 points are the most in the Centennial this season and are the most by a Diplomat since Dana Johns put in 38 vs. McDaniel on Feb. 14, 2006. Miceli chipped in seven rebounds and four assists while forwards Brittany Braxton and Marcis added 11 points apiece.
The 85 points is the most scored by a women's team in Tarble since the Garnet put up 92 on Randolph-Macon on Nov. 17, 2000.
Swarthmore returns to cozy Tarble Pavilion this Tuesday, Dec. 12, welcoming Centennial rival Bryn Mawr for a 6:00 p.m. game - the final game of the first semester for the Garnet.