February 2, 2002
WC Hangs On to Beat Red Devils
Piringer's 17 Points Lead Way

CARLISLE, PA – The Washington College Shorewomen went on a 16-0 run to end the first half and built a 14-point second half lead, but still had to hold off a late Dickinson College charge to hang on for a 57-55 Centennial Conference road win this afternoon in Carlisle, PA. The Shorewomen evened their overall record at 10-10 and improved to 4-6 in league play, while the Red Devils slipped to 9-12 and 2-7.

The final ten minutes of the first half were wild. With the Shorewomen leading, 16-12, with 9:45 to play in the period, Dickinson went on a 10-0 run to take a 22-16 lead with 5:54 to go. Washington then scored 16 unanswered points to end the half with a 32-22 lead. The Red Devils missed 13 field goal attempts and a pair of free throws during WC's run.

The Shorewomen kept control of the game well into the second half, taking their biggest lead with 11:50 remaining when a jumper by sophomore forward Meghan Hartzell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) extended the WC advantage to 43-29. The Red Devils hung around, however, and used a 12-2 run later in the period to tie the game at 51-51 on a lay-up by Megan Shelley with 3:31 to play.

Washington responded with back-to-back jumpers by senior forward Allyson Britton (Wilmington, DE/St. Elizabeth) and sophomore guard Katie Piringer (Potomac, MD/Stone Ridge) to go up 55-51 with 1:42 to play. Dickinson cut the lead to two on the next possession with a Kristin Brady lay-up, but Britton countered with a lay-up of her own to make the score 57-53 with 51 seconds left.

The Red Devils were give life in the final minute as WC missed five free throws that could have sealed the game, but Alexis Falvello's two-for-four shooting at the stripe produced all the remaining points Dickinson could muster.

The final minute was indicative of the team's performance at the line all game as the Shorewomen finished just two-for-11 at the stripe, but Dickinson could not fully capitalize, making only 15-of-26 free throws. The Shorewomen shot 45% from the field and 42% from three-point land, while the Red Devils were held to 35% and 17%, respectively.

Piringer led all scorers with 17 points on seven-for-11 shooting from the field and three-for-six shooting from beyond the arc. She was a perfect four-for-four from the field in the second half. Piringer has now made 46 three-pointers this season, just two fewer than the school record she set last year.

Britton added 12 points and seven boards and freshman forward Liz Smith (Hagerstown, MD/Boonsboro) contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds for WC. Sophomore guard Yianna Patronas (Bethesda, MD/Walt Whitman) dished out seven assists.

Shelly led Dickinson with 15 points, while Brady added 14 and Falvello 12. Falvello also tallied eight rebounds and three blocks. Christine Giordano had a game-high nine assists and grabbed eight boards.

The Shorewomen return to action Wednesday with a 7:00 p.m. home Centennial Conference game against Ursinus.

BOX SCORE