CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Dominique Meeks, Rachel Baskin and Elizabeth Lynch each scored 10 points but it was not enough as the Haverford College women's basketball team fell 69-54 to host DeSales University in the championship game of the Morgan Stanley Tip-Off Tournament Saturday afternoon.
Looking to go 2-0 to start the season, the Fords (1-1) faced a challenge from the opening tap as the Bulldogs (2-0) came out firing on all cylinders. Senior Colleen Gavin hit her first four shots to push DeSales out to a 15-8 lead at the 11:34 mark before Haverford's Jacquelyne Pizzuto reeled off six of the next eight points in the contest to bring her squad within three (17-14) with 10 minutes remaining in the half. The Fords closed within two on a Nina Voith layup with 1:48 on the clock before Sondrine Glovas extended the Bulldogs' lead to eight, 33-25, with 18 ticks until intermission. Pizzuto made use of every second left on the clock as she delivered a nice pass to Rachel Baskin who had sealed her girl down low. Baskin made the layup and an ensuing foulshot to trim Haverford's deficit to five, 33-28, and give the Fords the momentum going into the lockerroom.
Entering the second half, Haverford hoped to cool off the home team who shot 60 percent from behind the arc (3 of 5) and 50 percent overall (11 of 22) in the opening 20 minutes.
Baskin picked up where she left off in the first half by nailing a three pointer to spark a 7-2 run by the Fords after the break that tied the game at 35-35. Calla Miller continued the surge at 16:42 when she drilled a free throw to put Haverford on top for the first time in the contest, 38-37.
DeSales answered with a run of its own to go up 45-40 on another jumper by Glavin at 12:02 but the determined Fords did not go away. Lynch hit a shot from a couple steps behind the arc at 9:48 to pull Haverford within one, 47-46.
Taking advantage of playing in the comfortable confines of their home gym, the Bulldogs continued their torrid shooting which squelched hopes of a Haverford rally. The Fords closed within five, 55-50, with five minutes remaining but DeSales closed out the 69-54 victory.
Lynch added six rebounds while Meeks chipped in with five. Pizzuto finished with eight points and six assists. Registering another solid all-around effort, Baskin filled the stat sheet with four steals and four assists.
Gavin took game-high scoring honors with 21 points on 9 of 11 shooting.
In recognition of their solid play throughout the tournament, Meeks and Lynch were named to the all-tournament team.
Haverford begins the Centennial Conference slate on Tuesday night as Johns Hopkins University comes to Gooding Arena. The 6 p.m. contest precedes the men's 8 p.m. contest against the Blue Jays. Tuesday night's games, as well as all home contests this season, will be live streamed. Video and live stat links can be accessed at www.haverfordathletics.com.