SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College women's basketball team picked up a massive conference victory over Washington College, 56-42, on Wednesday night. The Garnet split the season series against the Shorewomen, who sit directly above them in the Centennial standings. 

The Garnet spread out their scoring in another strong shooting performance, registering 41.7 percent from the field. Vianna Kanyamiheto-Watson led the team with 13 points, while Carly Murphy contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.

Samara Diggs had another outstanding night on both ends of the floor. The rookie earned her second-straight start while totaling eight points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Lily Czub possessed the hot hand early, scoring the opening five points for the Garnet with a jumper and a three-pointer. Swarthmore expanded its lead with a 13-4 run, as its defense shut down the visitors on the other end of the court. Kanyamiheto-Watson, Murphy and Catherine Chadwell all contributed jumpers in a well-rounded quarter for the Garnet offense. 

- Chadwell capped off an excellent opening stanza with a three-pointer to put Swarthmore ahead by double digits, 18-8, at the first intermission. The Garnet shot an outstanding 53.8 percent as a team, while holding the Shorewomen to 27.3 percent.  

- Early in the second, Swarthmore maintained its stellar shooting with consecutive buckets from Chadwell and Murphy. The Garnet offense cooled off a bit, allowing Washington to inch back into the game with six-answered points. Emy Chen then provided an answer from beyond the arc to increase the team's lead to nine with 5:00 left until halftime.

- Diggs and Czub helped close the quarter strong with a pair of layups. Chadwell then added another bucket following a Kanyamiheto-Watson steal to give the Garnet a 31-20 lead at halftime. Swarthmore shot 50 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, while Chadwell and Czub led the way with nine points. 

- Washington fought its way back into contention with a 7-0 rally to open the third. After their lead shrunk to four, Murphy regrouped the offense with a pair of jumpers. The Shorewomen controlled the quarter with an 11-4 edge as they entered the final stanza at a four-point deficit, 35-31. 

- After Washington made it a one-possession game, Kanyamiheto-Watson knocked down a big-time three to build a six-point cushion with 8:18 left. Following another Shorewomen rally, the rookie buried another triple to expand Swarthmore's lead to seven. Diggs helped close the game with a contested layup and a pair of free throws to help finish off the Shorewomen. The Garnet won the final quarter with a 21-11 edge.


GARNET LEADERS
Points: Kanyamiheto-Watson 13, Murphy 12
Rebounds: Murphy 11, Diggs 10
Assists: Kanyamiheto-Watson 5
Steals: Kanyamiheto-Watson 4
Blocks: Diggs 3, Murphy 2

UP NEXT
The Garnet (8-14, 4-8) wrap up their home schedule with Ursinus College on Saturday.