CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Sophomore Avery Close(Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) scored a career-high 27 points for Gettysburg College, but it wasn't enough as Washington College used a 14-0 run in the second half to pull away for a 76-61 victory in Centennial Conference men's basketball action Thursday night.
Close topped his personal best by two points set earlier this season for Gettysburg (3-11, 2-5 CC). The sophomore hit 12-of-16 shots from the floor and knocked down a trio of free throws. Junior Nick Antolini (Babylon, N.Y./Babylon) posted nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while senior Alec Warren(Medford, N.J./Shawnee) nailed a trio of three-pointers to account for his point total.
Alec Lewis led Washington (7-7, 3-4 CC) with 24 points and added six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Josh Porteous came off the bench for 14 points and Dallas Marshall chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds.
The lead traded hands eight times in the opening half. Back-to-back three-pointers by Warren and junior Nick Lord(Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) put the Bullets in front 14-9 with 11:36 to play in the frame, but Washington came right back with a 13-2 run to jump in front 22-16.
Close kept Gettysburg within in striking distance with eight of his 12 first-half points in the final 4:52 of the frame. A steal by Antolini set up the sophomore for a fast-break slam with just over two minutes remaining and the teams entered the locker room tied 27-27.
Close converted a pair of old-fashioned three-point plays early in the second half to regain the lead for Gettysburg. Another bucket by the sophomore forward put the Orange and Blue ahead 37-36 with 15:58 on the clock.
The Shorewomen sprang ahead with back-to-back fast-break lay-ups by Porteous and Tray Wright kicking off the 14-point run. A three-pointer by Porteous closed the spurt and put Washington ahead 50-37 with 10:41 left.
Gettysburg was able to slice the margin down to eight twice inside the final 10 minutes, but the Shorewomen hit six of their final seven shot attempts to pull away.
After hitting just 11-of-33 (33.3 percent) field goals in the opening half, Washington knocked down 17-of-27 (63 percent) attempts in the final 20 minutes of play. Gettysburg finished 24-of-59 (40.7 percent). The Shorewomen held a 37-30 edge in rebounds.
Gettysburg returns home to face Muhlenberg College (8-6, 5-2 CC) Saturday at 1 p.m.