February 21, 2003
Shorewomen Fall at Muhlenberg
Simos, Piringer Combine for 46 Points

ALLENTOWN, PA – The Washington College Shorewomen fell victim to hot second-half shooting by host Muhlenberg in a 92-86 loss to the Mules this evening in Centennial Conference women's basketball action. The Shorewomen (9-15, 5-9 Centennial) led 38-34 at the half, but Muhlenberg (16-8, 12-2) shot 67% from the field in the second period, outscoring WC 62-44 in the final 20 minutes.

The Shorewomen had increased their lead to seven points in the early goings of the second half, pulling ahead, 44-37 on a lay-up by junior forward Meghan Hartzell (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) with 18:12 to go. The Mules then went on a 32-16 spurt over the next 8:33 to go up 69-60 with 9:39 to go on a lay-up by Jill Friedman. The Shorewomen hung around and were within six points with 5:50 to go after a Hartzell jumper cut the lead to 77-71, but Muhlenberg then went on a 9-2 run to push the lead to 86-73 with 1:15 left on a lay-up by Randi Baran.

Washington tried to pull off a miracle comeback as junior guard Yianna Patronas (Bethesda, MD/Walt Whitman) sunk three three-pointers in 18 seconds, the last of which came with 42 seconds to play, that got the Shorewomen back within eight points at 90-82. Muhlenberg sunk six-of-eight free throws in the final moments, however, to seal the win.

Junior guards Katie Piringer (Potomac, MD/Stone Ridge) and Karen Simos (North Potomac, MD/Thomas S. Wooton) each scored 23 points to lead the way for Washington. Piringer and Simos were each five-for-nine from beyond the three-point arc and Patronas was four-of-10 to complete a 14-of-28 performance from long range for the Shorewomen. Patronas also dished out a game-high five assists. Hartzell added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Friedman led Muhlenberg with 27 points and 17 rebounds. Lindsay Tis added 24 points, while Gwen Doyle scored 14 off the bench.

The Shorewomen close out their 2002-03 season with a 1:00 p.m. home game against McDaniel tomorrow.

BOX SCORE