Schumacher Hits Career-High, Garnet Fall at F&M
LANCASTER, Pa. - F&M senior forward Brittany Braxton had 17 points and 11 rebounds while sophomore guard Sarah Meisenberg chipped in 13 points and four assists as the Diplomats rolled to a 71-54 win over visiting Swarthmore in Centennial women's basketball Saturday afternoon in the Mayser Center. Swarthmore junior center Karen Berk had game-highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds while freshman guard Lisa Schumacher scored a career-best 14 points.
The Diplomats (4-9 overall, 3-4 CC) jumped out to an early 16-7 following a lay-up by freshman guard Sara Wolman at 12:39. The F&M women continued to apply full-court pressure, ripping off a 12-4 run to push the lead to 17 at the 5:21; freshman guard Faith Meisenberg buried a jumper to put the home team up 28-11.
F&M had a 19-17 edge on the boards in the first 20 minutes and shot a blistering 57.7% from the floor, taking a commanding 42-22 lead into halftime. Sarah Meisenberg was a perfect 7 of 7 from the charity stripe to lead all scorers at the break with 13 points. Schumacher and Berk paced Swarthmore (4-10 overall, 1-8 CC) with eight points apiece in the first half.
A Miriam Marcis lay-up at 10:49 left in the game gave the Diplomats their largest lead of the night, 57-35. Swarthmore would not get closer than 15 points as F&M shot 50% from the field and had four scorers hit double digits.
Braxton shot 6 of 9 from the field and 5 of 7 from the free throw line, while picking up double-figures in rebounds for the seventh time this season. Marcis added 11 points and three assists for the Diplomats while sophomore Amanda Miceli chipped in 10 points.
Berk notched her 11th double-double of the season, tops in the Centennial, adding four steals and three blocks in the process. Schumacher knocked down three triples, also a career-high, while sophomore guard Melissa Grigsby contributed six points for Swarthmore.
Swarthmore returns home to Tarble Pavilion for its next contest, a 6:00 p.m. game against historical rival Haverford College on Wednesday, January 17.