GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Finishing on a 12-0 run, the No. 2 seed Swarthmore College women's basketball team advanced to the Centennial Conference Championship game after a 62-56 victory over No. 3 Muhlenberg College (17-9) on Friday night.

The Garnet (20-6) will face the tournament host and No. 1 seed Gettysburg College in the championship game on Saturday. Swarthmore enters its first title game since 2002 and aims for its first conference crown since 2001. With the loss, the Mules miss the title game for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

Muhlenberg's Hannah Rush gathered a left-handed layup – which proved it be the Mules' final points - giving Muhlenberg its largest lead of the game at 56-50 with 3:31 in regulation. Not scared by the lead, Swarthmore began its push for the title game with a 12-0 run to close out the remaining time on the clock.

Junior Katie Lytle began the rally with a three-pointer - Swarthmore's first bucket in over six minutes of play - followed by a wide open bucket from senior Madeline Ross, who finished with 14 points. Now less than a minute to play and the score 56-55 in Muhlenberg's favor, Swarthmore caught a huge break when a bad pass from Garnet  deflected off of an official and straight to Ross. She connected on the go-ahead layup with 35 seconds on the board. The Mules' Alita Zabrecky, the team's top free throw shooter, missed both attempts to regain the lead and Garnet come out of the scrum with the ball.

Junior Katie Lytle finished with her 19th double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Elle Larsen gathered 20 points and nine rebounds - collecting 14 points in the first half.

Three players for the Mules finished in double-figures led by a double-double from Zabrecky (11 points and 10 rebounds). Kate Clawson and Hannah Rush each collected 10 points in the effort.

In the opening 20 minutes of play Swarthmore shot 41 percent from the field and overall held the momentum. A three-pointer from Lytle and lay-up from Ross put the Garnet in front 29-24 – its largest lead of the half – with under three minutes to play in the half. However, Muhlenberg found a rhythm to close with a 9-2 run and Julie Kelly sunk a buzzer-beating jumper for a 33-31 lead entering the break.

Action from Bream Gym will begin at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, February 23 as No. 1 Gettsyburg and No. 2 Swarthmore battle for the Centennial Conference title.