Rizzo Answers Call, Garnet Rally in Maryland
CHESTERTOWN, Md. -- Garnet freshman Nicole Rizzo sank a three-pointer with 41 seconds left to break a 53-all tie, and Swarthmore ended the night on a 7-0 run to earn a 58-53 win at Washington Tuesday night in the Cain Athletic Center.
Swarthmore was powered by sophomores Ceylan Bodur (Istanbul, Turkey / Roberts College) and Kathryn Stockbower (Ft. Washington, Pa. / Upper Dublin) who combined for 36 points. Stockbower had a game-high 21 points before fouling out while Bodur added 15 points for the Garnet.
The Garnet lost both Stockbower and an eight-point lead with under three minutes remaining. A three-pointer by Washington senior Brianne Slizofski capped a 16-5 run by the home team and a win looked in order for the Shorewomen (a school-record 8-1 start has been the story of the Centennial Conference thus far).
Bodur tied the score with another driving lay-up and it would remain so until a pair of Swarthmore freshman took over the final minute. Garnet forward Genny Pezzola '12 (Oakland, Calif. / St. Mary’s College HS) stole the ball from Washington with 51 seconds and Swarthmore called for a time-out. Classmate Rizzo (North Caldwell, N.J. / Gill St. Bernard’s) drilled in her seventh triple of the season ten seconds later and another swipe by Pezzola led to a pair of Pam Costello ’10 (Havertown, Pa. / Haverford) free-throws. The Garnet defense forced four consecutive empty possessions to snatch up its second road win of the season.
Swarthmore possesses an overall record of 8-8, 5-4 in the Centennial. Washington fell to 8-5 overall and 3-4 in the Conference.
Security was tight Washington, D.C. as the United States sworn into oath its 44th President and the same type of protection was given to rebounds at the college named for the inaugural U.S. leader. The Shorewomen limit opponents to a Centennial-best 33.3 offensive caroms per contest and put forth a concerted effort to protect that advantage from Stockbower, the top rebounder in all of Division III (15.1 per contest).
The Shorewomen brought double-coverage to limit Stockbower’s offensive rebounds and the strategy worked to the tune of a ten-point lead at 7:47 left in the first half. Washington freshman Meghan Tait sank a jumper for a 22-12 lead and the home team maintained a seven-point advantage into the intermission.
Stockbower was held to six first-half points but found the range right from the start of the second stanza. The All-Centennial forward hit her first six attempts, putting Swarthmore back in front, 37-35. The rest of the Garnet followed her lead, opening up a 46-37 lead following a Bodur lay-up.
Tait led Washington slowly back, finding a pair of Shorewomen for open three-pointers, the most thrilling being Slizofski’s at 2:16 to tie the contest.
Stockbower finished 10-for-14 from the floor, just missing another double-double with a game-high nine boards (eight defensive). Senior guard Melissa Grigsby (West Chester, Pa. / West Chester East) had the offense clicking in the second half (55.6% from the floor), handing out six assists.
Tait led Washington with 13 points while Slizofski added 12 points and a team-best eight boards. The Shorewomen held true on the rebound battle, holding a 38-36 edge.
Swarthmore will return to Tarble Pavilion on Saturday, January 24 to host the Ursinus Bears. The Centennial Conference match-up will begin at 1:00 p.m.
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