February 7, 2009
Diplomats Turn Away Shorewomen, 69-56
Sally O'Donnell Paces Washington with 20 Points

LANCASTER, PA – Host Franklin & Marshall College shot 52% from the field en route to a 69-56 Centennial Conference women's basketball victory over visiting Washington College this afternoon at the Mayser Center. The Diplomats improved to 12-9 overall and 9-5 in Centennial play with the win, while the Shorewomen slipped to 10-10 and 5-9 with the loss.

The Shorewomen raced out to leads of 11-2 and 17-7 to start the game, but an 18-3 run by the Diplomats to end the first half gave Franklin & Marshall a 31-23 lead at the break.

F&M's lead grew to nine points early in the second half before a 10-2 Washington run gave the Shorewomen a 38-37 lead on a lay-up by freshman guard Meghan Tait (Oxford, PA/Oxford Area) with 14:22 to play in the game. F&M scored the next four points to retake the lead, going up, 41-38, on a Beth Holt lay-up with 13:35 remaining.

Franklin & Marshall clung to a 47-46 lead before six straight points, capped off by a jumper from Allison Bauer, pushed the Diplomats' advantage to 53-46 with 6:02 left to play. The Diplomats led by at least three points the rest of the way and ended the game on a 14-4 run.

Four Diplomats scored in double figures in the game, led by Holt, who poured in 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-2 from three-point range, and 5-of-6 shooting at the free-throw line. Holt also dished out six assists. Cara Landolfi added 12 points, while Amanda Micelicontributed 11 points and Sarah Meisenberg tallied 10 points and seven rebounds.

Freshman guard/forward Sally O'Donnell (Cape May Court House, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) scored a game-high 20 points for the Shorewomen, knocking down six three-pointers in 13 attempts. She also blocked three shots in the game. Tait added 13 points, while senior guard Brianne Slizofski (Collegeville, PA/St. Pius X) scored 12 points and brought down a game-best nine rebounds.

The Shorewomen return to action Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. game at Alvernia.

BOX SCORE