LANCASTER, Pa. - Still searching for their first win of the new year, the Swarthmore women's basketball team fell to Franklin and Marshall College by a score of 57-50 on Saturday, Jan. 7th.
 
Offensively, the Garnet saw double digit performances from sophomore Alyssa Hayashi and first year Anna Hansson, both of whom put up 16 and 12 points respectively. Defensively, Swarthmore was headlined by sophomore Carolina Lopez, with the New York City Native tallying three steals and three rebounds off the bench.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Despite Hansson giving the Garnet a 2-0 lead just 38 seconds into the game, Swarthmore would struggle offensively to start off the first quarter, failing to secure another field goal for the next four and a half minutes. Another Hansson layup would end the Garnet's scoring slump, with the Garnet trailing just 7-4 with 4:58 left in the period. Despite Swarthmore's offensive woes, their defense proved stout, holding the Diplomats to just 14 points through the first nine minutes of play. Buckets from Hansson, Hayashi, senior Kim Kockenmeister and first year Kaylah Jacques kept the score close, before a 4-0 run in the last minute of play secured the Diplomats some breathing room, closing out the first up 17-13 over the Garnet.

- Hayashi kicked off the scoring early for the Garnet, draining a three just 16 seconds into the second quarter to cut F&M's lead to one. Swarthmore's smothering defense held the Diplomats in check, keeping them off the scoreboard and allowing a jump shot from first year Elisa Fiore to give the Garnet and 18-17 lead, their first since the opening seconds. Garnet shots would stop falling for the next four minutes however, allowing F&M to recapture a 23-18 advantage halfway through the period. While a layup from sophomore Norah Wingfield and two made foul shots from Hayashi would shrink the Diplomats' margin to 25-24, a 5-0 run to end the quarter would give F&M a 30-24 lead heading into the half.

- While a Hayashi triple would start off second half scoring in the opening seconds of the third quarter, Garnet shooters would proceed to fall quiet for the next five minutes, allowing for the Diplomats to take a 39-27 lead with 5:33 left in the period. A Hayashi layup would end Swarthmore's nearly four-minute drought, while a Sellinger jumpshot and a Smith foul shot closed the Garnet's deficit to seven at 39-32. However, the Diplomat offense quickly rebounded, securing a 45-33 advantage going into the final period.

- Despite the deficit, the Garnet fought hard, trading baskets throughout the fourth quarter with the Diplomats and going as far as to shrink F&M's lead to just five with 55 seconds left to play. However, Swarthmore's deficit proved too great, as the Diplomats escaped with a 57-50 win.

- The Garnet are now 4-7, 2-4 in conference play. 

GARNET LEADERS
Points: Hayashi (16), Hansson (12)
Assists: Lopez (3), Kockenmeister (2), Becker (2)
Rebounds: Hansson (6), Kockenmeister (6), Becker (4)
Steals: Lopez (3), Kockenmeister (2), Hayashi (2)
Blocks: Hansson (1), Kockenmeister (1), Anderson (1)
 
UP NEXT
Returning to Tarble Pavilion, the Garnet will host Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday, January 10th at 6:00 p.m.