Freshmen Lead the Way as Garnet Women Defeat Washington 65-59
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Freshman Eliza Polli scored 14 points on four-of-four shooting from behind the arc - including a crucial three-pointer in the final three minutes of play - while classmate Madeline Ross also dropped 14 points to lead the Swarthmore College women's basketball team (10-12, 7-10 CC) to a much needed 65-59 victory over the Washington College Shorewomen (9-13, 7-10 CC) Friday night in Tarble Pavilion.
Polli went four-for-four, scoring 14 points to lead Swat to a win over Washington.
Junior Kathryn Stockbower notched another double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down 19 rebounds to bring the career count to 61. Stockbower's 19 rebounds now puts her only 22 rebounds shy of becoming only the second Swarthmore player to reach 1,000 career points and rebounds. Stockbower has now scored in double figures in 69 straight games.
Just as they have all season long for the cardiac Garnet, this game came down to the final minutes. Fortunately for snake-bitten Swat fans, this one had a favorably ending - but it wasn't without its drama.
With just :50 seconds remaining and Swat up 61-54, Polli fouled Washington's Sally O'Donnell on a three-pointer, which looked as if it would prove to be another costly late-game mistake for the Garnet. But senior captain Pam Costello made sure Swat would not fold in this game, sinking a pair of free throws with just :20 seconds remaining, bringing the lead to 63-59 and sealing the victory for the Garnet.
Up 53-51 with under five minutes to play, Swat took the control of the game thanks to back-to-back three-pointers by Polli and sophomore Genny Pezzola.
The Garnet dominated the Shorewomen under the boards, pulling down 48 boards while Washington was held to only 31 rebounds.
Swat was able to maintain its second-half lead thanks to 48 percent shooting from the floor. The Garnet finished shooting 41 percent from the field for the game and 33 percent from behind the arc.
Meghan Tait led the Shorewomen with 13 points and six assists.
Swarthmore returns to action when Johns Hopkins visits Tarble Pavilion on Monday, February 15 for a much anticipated Conference showdown. Action is slated to begin at 6 PM.