LANCASTER, Pa – Franklin & Marshall fell to No. 9 Muhlenberg, 62-54, in a hard fought Centennial Conference (CC) match-up at the Mayser Center Thursday night. The Diplomats drop to 9-5, 6-3 CC while the Mules remain perfect at 12-0, 7-0 CC.  

The Diplomats led for the better part of the first half after Alexa Barbush got the scoring started at the 19:06 mark off a lay-up. Muhlenberg hung around and took its first lead of the game at the 6:09 mark. Erin Laney grabbed an offensive rebound and fed it out to Alita Zabrecky, who banked in a three-pointer to give the Mules the go ahead, 21-20. Just before the half, Kristina McCarthy hit a pair of free throws to pull the Diplomats within three, however Muhlenberg responded just 15 seconds later as Kathleen Naddaff converted a lay-up to make the score 31-26 at the intermission.

Muhlenberg maintained its lead for the opening few minutes of the second half, before F&M went on an 8-2 run that was started by an Emma Lisle lay-up at the 13-minute mark. Two minutes later, Elizabeth Snyder made a lay-up to bring the Diplomats within one. The Mules responded immediately as Alexandra Chili drove to the hoop for two, which led to a 6-0 Muhlenberg run.

F&M would stay in the contest as Snyder again delivered for the Diplomats, hitting a trey with 8:45 left in the half to bring them within four. Less than two minutes later Muhlenberg's Katy Rossino set up Chili, who drilled a three-pointer to put the Mules up by seven. The Mules went on to outscore the Diplomats 8-4 in the closing minutes to secure the win.

Muhlenberg was paced by Zabrecky with a game-high 22 points, six rebounds and a team-high three steals. Chili added 14 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high six assists for the Mules.

The Diplomats were led by Barbush who notched a team-high 15 points and six rebounds. Snyder tallied 11 points and snatched a game-high four steals, while McCarthy  pulled down a game-high 11 boards. Lisle added six points and a career-high eight rebounds.

The Diplomats will return to the Mayser Center Saturday afternoon as they host Bryn Mawr at 2:00 p.m. in CC action.

MUHLENBERG 62, FRANKLIN & MARSHALL 54

MUHLENBERG (12-0, 7-0 CC)

Alita Zabrecky 9-15 3-4 22; Alexandra Chili 5-14 2-2 14; Kate Clawson 3-8 2-2 8; Leeann Lanza 3-6 0-0 6; Kathleen Naddaff 2-4 2-6 6; Erin Laney 2-5 0-0 4; Hannah Rush 1-2 0-0 2; Julie Kelly 0-3 0-0 0; Katy Rossino 0-1 0-1 0; Kimberly Mui 0-0 0-0 0; Colleen Caldwell 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 25-62 9-15 62.

FRANKLIN & MARSHALL (9-5, 6-3 CC)

Alexa Barbush 7-15 1-1 15; Elizabeth Snyder 4-12 2-5 11; Allison Bauer 3-10 0-0 7; Megan Pauley 3-7 0-0 6; Emma Lisle 3-6 0-0 6; Kristina McCarthy 0-6 5-8 5; Colleen Bott 1-5 2-4 4; Emily Johnson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-62 10-18 54.

Muhlenberg....................   31   31  -   62
Franklin & Marshall...........   26   28  -   54

3-point goals--Muhlenberg 3-11 (Alexandra Chili 2-5; Alita Zabrecky 1-2;
Julie Kelly 0-1; Kate Clawson 0-3), Franklin & Marshall 2-4 (Elizabeth
Snyder 1-2; Allison Bauer 1-2).

Fouled out--Muhlenberg-None, Franklin & Marshall-None.

Rebounds--Muhlenberg 42 (Alexandra Chili 7), Franklin & Marshall 43 (Kristina McCarthy 11).

Assists--Muhlenberg 14 (Alexandra Chili 6), Franklin & Marshall 6 (Elizabeth Snyder 2; Alexa Barbush 2).

Total fouls--Muhlenberg 14, Franklin & Marshall 15.

Technical fouls--Muhlenberg-None, Franklin & Marshall-None.

A-283