January 12, 2008
Diplomats Oust Shorewomen, 68-58
Conway Breaks Assist Record, Just Misses Triple-Double in Loss

LANCASTER, PA – Host Franklin & Marshall used a 17-4 run in the second half to take control of a close game en route to a 68-58 Centennial Conference women's basketball victory over visiting Washington College this afternoon at the Mayser Center. The Diplomats (8-4, 4-2 Centennial) got a game-high 20 points, eight assists, and five steals from Sarah Meisenberg in the win. Washington senior guard Elise Conway (Silver Spring, MD/Paint Branch) broke the school record for assists in a game by dishing out 12 helpers and was one rebound short of a triple-double in the loss for the Shorewomen (5-7, 2-3).

The score was knotted at 11-11 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half before the Diplomats ran off eight straight points to take a 19-11 lead. Washington eventually cut the lead down the four points on a jumper by junior guard Brianne Slizofski (Collegeville, PA/Pius X) which made it 27-23 with 31 seconds remaining before a Brittany Braxton put-back with four seconds left gave the Diplomats a 29-23 advantage at the break.

The Shorewomen came out strong to open the second half, scoring the first five points of the period to cut the lead to 29-28 on a jumper by senior forward Brenda Lucas (New London, PA/Avon Grove) with 17:12 to play, but the Diplomats later used a 17-4 run to open up a 51-36 lead on a lay-up by Cara Landolfi with 9:21 remaining. F&M led by at least eight points the rest of the way.

Meisenberg scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half for F&M. Landolfi added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Diplomats, while Braxton tallied eight points and 10 rebounds. Beth Holt contributed nine points, five assists, and three steals for F&M.

Conway filled up the stat sheet for Washington, scoring 12 points, grabbing nine rebounds, swiping three steals, and blocking three shots to go along with her school-record 12 assists. Her 12th assist came on a lay-up by freshman forward Nicole Wojtusik (Washington Boro, PA/Penn Manor) with 2:13 left in the game. The previous school record of 11 was set by Lee Ann Lezzer in 1993 and matched by Yianna Patronas in 2004. Conway scored or assisted 17 of Washington's 25 field goals in the game.

Slizofski scored a team-high 13 points for Washington and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss, while Lucas added 10 points.

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

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