January 16, 2002
Shorewomen Bow to No. 8 Muhlenberg
Piringer Leads WC with 20 Points

ALLENTOWN, PA – The Washington College women's basketball team fell to 7-7 overall and 2-4 in the Centennial Conference tonight with an 86-59 loss at unbeaten and nationally-ranked Muhlenberg this evening in Allentown. The Mules, who check in at No. 8 in the latest D3hoops.com poll, improved to 13-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play with the win.

The Shorewomen stayed in the game early and actually took a 22-21 lead off a pair of made free throws from sophomore forward Meghan Hartzell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) with 11:15 remaining in the first half. The Mules answered with a 16-0 run, however, which was capped off by a pair of Elizabeth Bryant free throws that put Muhlenberg up, 38-22, with 5:56 to go in the period. Muhlenberg led 48-34 at the break and extended its lead in the second half.

Susan Marchiano scored 18 points and collected eight rebounds for the victors, while Becky Richmond turned in a 16-point, 16-rebound effort. Randi Baran added 11 points and six assists for the Mules.

Sophomore guard Katie Piringer (Potomac, MD/Stone Ridge) led Washington with a game-high 20 points. Freshman forward Liz Smith (Hagerstown, MD/Boonsboro) scored 11 points in 20 minutes before fouling out. Sophomore guards Karen Simos (North Potomac, MD/Thomas S. Wooton) and Yianna Patronas (Bethesda, MD/Walt Whitman) each handed out six assists.

The Mules committed 27 turnovers in the game, but forced 34 Shorewoman turnovers. The Mules dominated the glass, outrebounding WC, 59-37 overall. Thirty of Muhlenberg's boards were offensive, which helped the Mules get off 16 more field goal attempts and shoot 16 more free throws than the Shorewomen.

Washington returns to action Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. home game against Haverford.

BOX SCORE