Garnet Pop Owl’s Hope for Repeat
BRYN MAWR, Pa. -- Swarthmore senior Laura Popovics (Gorham, Maine / Gorham) scored a season-best 16 points to aid the Garnet (4-4) in their 55-46 win against the Bryn Mawr Owls (2-6). Swarthmore did not let history repeat itself, beating the Owls a season after Bryn Mawr ended a 29-game losing streak.
After a slow start before the visiting went on a nine-point unanswered streak pushing their lead to 18-9. Guard Popovics controlled the ball during the first half scoring a team high of nine points.
Karen Berk ’08 (Havertown, Pa. / Haverford) reached 776 rebounds to move up as Swarthmore’s fourth career rebounder passing Liz Clarke ’90 (773).
Bryn Mawr junior Jessica Allen (Reading, Pa. / Reading) shot six-for-nine in the first half while scoring 14 points.
The Garnet closed the half leading the Owls 27-22.
Swarthmore came out strong in the second half forcing three turnovers in the first four minutes. Ceylan Bodur ’11 (Istanbul, Turkey / Robert College) grabbed nine rebounds and had four steals.
At 3:49 Popovics scored her fourth 3-pointer to become Swarthmore’s third all-time leading 3-point shooter, she surpassed Debra Farrelly ’06 (86).
Garnet forward Kathryn Stockbower ’11 (Ft. Washington, Pa. / Upper Dublin) posted her seventh career double-double as she scored 12 points and had 12 rebounds.
Three of the Owls' starters scored in the double digits; senior Katie Driscoll (Little Neck, N.Y. / Townsend Harris) and sophomore Shanika Bridges-King (Roxbury, Mass. / English) both had 10 points while Allen finished with a total of 17 points.
Due to the rotating conference schedule because of the odd number of teams this game is considered a non-conference game. The teams will face each other again on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 for a Centennial game.
Swarthmore women’s basketball will continue after the New Year when the team will travel to Cabrini for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off.