Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – Senior Stephanie Lechich scored a career-high 16 points to lift the Swarthmore College women's basketball team to a 63-55 victory over Franklin & Marshall in Centennial Conference action on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at the Mayser Center.

The first half featured four ties and two lead changes while both teams were plagued by cold shooting. Swarthmore scored the first basket on its opening possession when sophomore Abbey Deckard finished a pass from senior Kayla Moritzky, but the Diplomats rattled off six straight and did not allow the Garnet to can a field until freshman Maggie O'Neil swished an attempt from the right corner at the 12:54 mark. It was the visitor's first field goal in 6:37.

After Swarthmore was able to tie the game up for the fourth time at 10s, Lechich scored eight consecutive Garnet points to give the visitors an 18-17 edge with 6:36 left. O'Neil assisted on two of the baskets, including the layup that put Swarthmore ahead. Another good jumper from Lechich capped a 14-0 run and gave the Garnet a  double-digit lead at 27-17 before the Diplomats ended a scoreless streak that lasted more than six minutes by netting the final five points of the half.

Franklin & Marshall (3-9, CC 1-4) continued to slowly claw itself back in the early stages of the second half. The Diplomats regained the lead when sophomore Hannah Rose Nussbaum hit two free throws to make it 35-34 at the 13:36 mark.

However, Swarthmore came back and took control for the final 10 minutes of the game. O'Neil hit a trey that gave the Garnet a 46-44 advantage and the lead for good with 9:19 on the clock. The shot started a 15-3 run that was capped by a Moritzky trifecta that created a 59-46 score and more than enough insurance for the visitors to earn a key conference road win.

Lechich scored her career-high 16 points by shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-7 from long range to lead Swarthmore. Katie Lytle, who was recently named the Centennial Conference and Corvias ECAC South Region Co-Player of the Week, finished with a double-double by accumulating 12 points and 14 boards. She also had four steals and three assists, which were both team highs. Junior Elle Larsen just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Franklin & Marshall was paced by senior forward Kristina McCarthy, who racked up 23 points and 21 rebounds. Both marks were game highs. Classmate Emma Lisle finished with 12 points, five boards and three steals.

Swarthmore (6-5, CC 2-4) will play its first home game in over a month when it hosts Bryn Athyn on Saturday, Jan. 11 at noon.