CARLISLE, Pa. – Freshman Jessica Porter (Narberth, Pa./Lower Merion) started to close the door with a lay-in with 24 seconds left and junior Caroline Murphy (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) slammed it shut with a pair of free throws in the final seconds to lift Gettysburg College past Dickinson College 48-44 in Centennial Conference women's hoops action Wednesday night.
Gettysburg (18-6, 15-4 CC), which has won 14 of its last 16 contests, remained tied with Swarthmore College (19-5, 15-4 CC) for the top spot in the conference standings. The drama will be high on Saturday when the Bullets close out the season against McDaniel College (11-13, 8-11 CC), while the Garnet face Haverford College (14-9, 11-8 CC), which clinched the fifth and final playoff spot on Wednesday. A loss by Swarthmore or a loss by Muhlenberg College (16-8, 13-6 CC), currently the third team in the standings, would give Gettysburg the No. 1 seed and hosting rights for the 2013 CC Tournament slated for Feb. 22-23.
Dickinson (13-10, 9-10 CC) saw its playoff hopes dashed with the loss. The Red Devils grabbed a 44-42 lead with 3:21 to play following a lay-up by Belma Mekic. Gettysburg would answer on the very next possession as Murphy flipped a quick pass to Porter for a lay-up to tie the game.
Each team came up empty on the next several offensive possessions. With less than 30 seconds left and the shot clock winding down, Porter drove to the hoop from the left side and tossed up a runner that swished through the net to give the visitors a 46-44 advantage.
Dickinson was unable to answer following a timeout as Mekic's baseline jumper was short and Murphy scooped up the rebound. The Red Devils were forced to foul and Murphy, Gettysburg's career free-throw percentage leader, canned both attempts to push the lead to four with five seconds left.
The opening half went back-and-forth until Gettysburg started to build momentum with under five minutes to go. A lay-up by freshman Emily Duggan (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City) at 4:49 started a 10-0 run and helped the visitors take a 27-22 lead at the break.
Both teams were nearly even across the board statistically. Gettysburg finished 19-of-49 from the field (38.8 percent), while Dickinson shot 17-of-47 (36.2 percent). Both teams grabbed 32 rebounds and turnovers stood at 13 for the visitors and 15 for the hosts.
Murphy put together an efficient night, hitting 6-of-8 field goals, including her only three-point attempt, as well as those two free throws. She finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds for her team-best ninth double-double of the year. Junior Alyssa Isler (New Hope, Pa./New Hope-Solebury) added nine points, while sophomore Jenna Swope (Warminster, Pa./Archbishop Wood) posted eight points and six rebounds.
Dana Walsh finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and four steals to lead Dickinson. Mekic chipped in 10 points and six boards, while Bridget Borgese recorded eight points and seven rebounds.
Gettysburg closes the season against the Green Terror on Saturday at 4 p.m. The two teams will also be participating in Play 4Kay in an effort to raise breast cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink or purchase a "Think Pink" t-shirt prior to the game to support the cause.