January 20, 2007
Shorewomen Stun #23 Mules, 64-63
First-Ever WC Win Over Nationally-Ranked Foe

CHESTERTOWN, MD – The Washington College women's basketball team recorded its first-ever win over a nationally-ranked opponent by upending visiting Muhlenberg College, 64-63, in a Centennial Conference game this afternoon at Cain Athletic Center. With the win, the Shorewomen (8-8, 3-7 Centennial) also snapped a 22-game losing streak to the Mules (13-2, 8-2), which dated back to 1996.

Muhlenberg used a 9-0 run to take a 26-21 lead with 8:33 left in the first half, but the Shorewomen answered with an 11-2 run and a put-back by junior forward Brenda Lucas (New London, PA/Avon Grove) at the buzzer gave Washington a 35-32 advantage at the half.

Muhlenberg would go on to tie the score twice in the second half, but could not regain the lead. The Shorewomen held a 47-40 lead with 12:50 to play in the second following a three-pointer by freshman guard Jane O'Donnell (Cape May Court House, NJ/Wildwood Catholic). The Mules responded with a 9-2 spurt to tie the game up at 49-49 with 10:32 remaining. The two teams traded baskets and were deadlocked at 51-51 before a jumper by O'Donnell and a three-pointer by junior guard Elise Conway (Silver Spring, MD/Paint Branch) with 7:42 remaining gave Washington a 56-51 edge.

The Mules cut the lead back to one point as Lauren Boyle hit a jumper and, later, two free throws to trim the margin to 56-55, but a pair of free throws by O'Donnell and a jumper by WC sophomore guard Brianne Slizfoski (Collegeville, PA/Pius X) gave Washington a 60-55 lead with 5:29 remaining. Boyle then converted a lay-up with 5:08 left to make it 60-57.

Both teams then went into slumps offensively, as neither squad scored for the next 4:02 of the game. During that time, Washington was 0-for-4 from the field with five turnovers, while Muhlenberg went 0-for-2 from the field with five turnovers.

Muhlenberg's Meghan Courtney ended the scoring drought with a pair of free throws at 1:06 to make it 60-59. Washington senior guard LaToya Turner (Chestertown, MD/Kent County) answered on the other end with a lay-up and free throw to push the lead back to 63-59 with 54 seconds left. Boyle scored again for the Mules 11 seconds later to cut the lead to 63-61.

After a missed jumper by Turner, Kaitlin Strumph went to the line for the Mules with a chance to tie the score with 13 seconds remaining, but missed the front end of a one-and-one. Lucas chased down a long rebound, diving on the floor and getting fouled. Lucas made her first free throw, but missed the second as Courtney corralled the rebound. Abra Like missed a three-pointer on the other end for Muhlenberg, but Courtney laid the ball in with 2.2 seconds to go to make it 64-63. Muhlenberg then fouled on the inbounds pass and Turner went to the line with 1.1 seconds on the clock. Turner missed the front end of a one-and-one, but time ran out before Muhlenberg could get a shot off.

Four players finished in double figures for the Shorewomen. Conway tallied 13 points, six assists, six rebounds, and two blocks, while O'Donnell added 13 points of her own. Slizofski and sophomore guard Christie Rogers (Davidsonville, MD/Archbishop Spalding) netted 10 points each.

Courtney scored a game-high 23 points, brought down seven board, and blocked three shots for the Mules, while Boyle finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Like dished out a game-high 11 assists and grabbed eight rebounds for the Mules.

Washington shot 40% from the field in the game, while Muhlenberg shot 37%. Muhlenberg held a 47-43 advantage on the boards. Each team committed 24 turnovers in the game.

The Shorewomen's last win over the Mules was a 60-57 triumph on January, 14th, 1996.

The Shorewomen return to action Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. Centennial Conference home game against Johns Hopkins.

BOX SCORE