SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College women's basketball team returned to Centennial Conference action with a 58-45 loss to No. 22 Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday night.

Alyssa Hayashi led the Garnet with 10 points as the team's lone scorer in double figures. Rebekah Gendler added nine points, while Anna Hansson scored eight. 

The Garnet were able to remain within striking distance for most of the night. The team's defense pressured the nationally-ranked Blue Jays into 20 turnovers. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore's defense caused seven first-quarter turnovers to make up for a tough shooting performance. After the Blue Jays jumped out to a 5-2 advantage, the Garnet countered with five-straight points to take its first lead. Hayashi scored consecutive buckets with a jumper and layup, while Gendler added a free throw, 7-5. 

- The Garnet struggled from the field and were held scoreless in the final five minutes. Johns Hopkins ended the opening stanza on a 12-0 run with four three-pointers to take a 17-7 lead.

- After a Hopkins bucket to open the second quarter, the Garnet tipped momentum in their favor with a 9-3 swing. Gendler closed the run with a three-pointer, while Norah Wingfield, Lillian Czub and Hansson all contributed points to pull Swarthmore within six, 23-16. 

- The Blue Jays closed the half on a 7-2 run to build their lead back to double digits, 29-18. Swarthmore shot 21.9 percent in the half, but won the turnover battle 10-4. Johns Hopkins was red hot from long range at 53.8 percent with seven of its 10 field goals coming from beyond the arc.  

- Carly Murphy and Gendler hit from long range to give the Garnet momentum in the third quarter. The first-year capped off seven-unanswered points with a three ball to pull her team within seven with 4:40 left. Hopkins then regained control with six-straight points until Wingfield connected from three-point range to end the Jays' rally. Johns Hopkins entered the final stanza with a 10-point lead, 45-35. 

- Hayashi started the final quarter with a bucket to shrink the team's deficit to single digits. However, Hopkins countered with a 10-2 run to build a 16-point advantage with 2:39 left. The Garnet broke their five-minute scoring drought with a Czub jumper at the 2:19 mark. Swarthmore ended the game on a 6-3 run, but were unable to overcome its double-digit hole. 

GARNET LEADERS
Points: Hayahsi 10
Rebounds: Gendler 5
Assists: Lopez 2
Steals: Gendler 3

UP NEXT
The Garnet (4-8, 0-3) look to bounce back at Dickinson College on Saturday.