Stockbower Gets Tenth Double-Double, Garnet Fall in Lancaster
LANCASTER, Pa. -- The hometown Diplomats put four players in double figures on their way to a 74-57 win over Swarthmore in women's basketball action Wednesday night at the Mayser Center.
Garnet All-Centennial forward Kathryn Stockbower (Fort Washington, Pa. / Upper Dublin) posted her 10th double-double of the year, recording game highs with 23 points and 14 rebounds as Swarthmore dropped to 5-6 overall and 2-2 in the Centennial.
Franklin & Marshall improved to 5-5 on the season, and 3-1 in the Conference, by dominating the interior game (F&M held a 48-21 edge in points-in-the-paint). The Diplomats were led by sophomore center Alison Menna (Scarsdale, N.Y. / Scarsdale) who contributed a career-high 14 points. Reigning Centennial Player of the Year, Diplomats guard Sarah Meisenberg (Severna Park, Md. / Severn School) added 13 points, freshman center Casey Downie (Pottstown, Pa. / The Hill School) added a career-best 13 points and senior center Cara Landolfi (North Arlington, N.J. / Montclair) contributed 10 markers.
The anticipated match-up of two of the top players in the Centennial Conference (Stockbower and Meisenberg) turned on a 12-0 run by Franklin & Marshall early in the second half. Facing a six-point deficit after halftime, Garnet junior guard Ceylan Bodur (Istanbul, Turkey / Rogers College) drilled a three-pointer in transition, bringing the Garnet within one, 36-35, at 17:14.
The Diplomats exploded for the deciding run over the next four minutes, as dribble penetration by the F&M guards opened up easy lay-ups for the forwards. Diplomats guard Beth Holt (Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) found Downie alone in the paint at 17:05 and the duo repeated the combination at 13:30 to cap the run with a 48-35 lead.
Stockbower converted an offensive rebound opportunity to stem the run but foul trouble forced her to the bench and the Diplomats took advantage, building a lead as large as 65-39. The Garnet fought back late in the game, getting within 14 after a lay-in by Bodur. She would finish the night with 16 points, seven boards, and four assists.
F&M shot 49.1% from the floor on the night and picked up 12 steals while Swarthmore held a slight 36-34 advantage on the glass.
The pace of the game clipped along for the first ten minutes of the opening half with the teams exchanging the lead six times. Holt hooked up with Downie for a lay-up and a 10-9 lead at 12:20.
Stockbower responded with a pair of swishes at the charity stripe, handing the lead back to the visitors, 11-10, on the next possession.
The Franklin & Marshall women extended the pressure to full-court, generating a 9-4 run. Forward Miriam Marcis (Flemington, N.J. / Hunterdon Central Reg.) dropped in a pair of free throws to put the hometown team out front, 25-18, with 5:31 left. The next few minutes belonged to Meisenberg. The speedy guard picked up two steals on the defensive end and led a flurry of fast-breaks. Meisenberg assisted on two lay-ups and converted a third, giving Franklin & Marshall a 10-point advantage, 34-24, with 2:54 left in the half.
Stockbower responded for Swarthmore with four points, sandwiching Bodur free-throws to cut into the Diplomats’ halftime advantage. Stockbower led all scorers with 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the free-throw line as Swarthmore trailed, 34-30, at the intermission.
Allison Bauer (Lancaster, Pa. / Conestoga Valley) led F&M with nine points at half as the hometeam nailed 50% from the floor.
The Garnet return home for their next contest, hosting the Dickinson Red Devils as part of a Centennial Conference doubleheader on Saturday, January 10. The Swarthmore women tip at 2:00 p.m. in Tarble Pavilion.
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