SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Splitting the season series with the Diplomats, the Swarthmore women's basketball team took down Franklin & Marshall College 72-47 on Saturday, Feb. 4th.
The Garnet were captained by a dominant performance from senior
Dana Bandurick, with the forward putting up team leading stats in nearly every category and securing both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. On offense, Bandurick posted a season high 20 points, while also tallying four assists. On defense the Pennsylvania native balled out, putting up four steals on top of season highs of three steals and 14 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Starting off the first half strong, the Garnet took a 5-0 lead within the first minute and a half off of buckets from senior Kim Kockenmesiter and first year
Anna Hansson. While the Diplomats were able to respond with back-to-back baskets of their own, shrinking the Garnet's margin to just one, stellar shooting from Hansson, sophomore
Carolina Lopez and sophomore
Alyssa Hayashi gave the Garnet a 10-4 advantage halfway through the quarter. A tough layup from Kockenmesiter extended Swarthmore's lead to 10 with 1:34 left to play, and while F&M were able to stem the bleeding with four straight foul shots, a buzzer beating triple from first year
Harrison Anderson ensured a comfortable lead for the Garnet, with Swarthmore closing out the quarter up 19-10.
- The Garnet were unable to carry their offensive momentum into the second period, not finding a point through the first three minutes of play, allowing for F&M to get within six. Layups from Lopez, Kockenmesiter and Hansson cut into the Diplomats' offensive momentum however, with another buzzer beater, this time from Bandurick, securing a 28-21 advantage for the Garnet going into the half.
- Swarthmore carried their offensive woes into the second half, only able to score five points through the first six minutes of play. F&M were able to capitalize on Swarthmore's struggles, tying the game up at 32-all with 4:02 left in the third quarter.
- Despite the Garnet struggling all period, they were able to finally catch fire in the last four minutes of the quarter, with shots from sophomore Wingfield, first year
Elisa Fiore, Bandurick and Hayashi igniting a 13-3 run, giving Swarthmore a 43-35 lead going into the fourth.
- Looking to close out the game early, Swarthmore came out of the gate absolutely blazing, securing their first points just 40 seconds into quarter. The Garnet would go on to destroy the Diplomats in the fourth, outscoring their opposition 27-12 while forcing eight turnovers en route to a dominant 72-47 win.
- The Garnet are now 9-11, 7-8 in conference play.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: Bandurick (20), Hansson (13), Lopez (10), Kockenmeister (10)
Assists: Bandurick (4), Hansson (3), Lopez (2)
Rebounds: Bandurick (14), Lopez (4), Hansson (4), Kockenmeister (4)
Steals: Bandurick (4), Hayashi (4), Kockenmesiter (2)
Blocks: Bandurick (3), Lopez (1)
UP NEXT
Still fighting for a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs, the Garnet will travel to Collegeville to take on Ursinus on Tuesday, Feb. 7th at 6:00 p.m.
