GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gettysburg won the return game against Muhlenberg for the fifth consecutive season and jumped ahead of the Mules in the Centennial Conference standings with a 63-50 victory in women's basketball action inside Bream Gym Saturday afternoon. 

Gettysburg (14-6, 9-5 CC) moved half-a-game ahead of Muhlenberg (12-9, 9-6 CC) for fourth in the conference standings with just four games left in the regular season. The two teams have split the regular-season series in each of the last five seasons, with the Mules winning the opening game and the Bullets taking round two each year. 

Gettysburg built its lead to a game-high 14 (55-41) on a jumper by senior Caroline Murphy (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) with 6:55 left in the game. However, the contest took an interesting turn when sophomore Emily Duggan (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City) and Murphy, who combined for 24 points and 15 rebounds, both fouled out with less than five minutes remaining. 

The hosts were forced to go with a smaller lineup, but the taller Mules were unable to take advantage, making just one field goal over the final six minutes. After cutting the lead to 56-50 with 2:44 left, Muhlenberg missed its final 10 field-goal attempts. 

Gettysburg, which uncharacteristically struggled from the charity stripe during the game, received a pair of free throws from both senior Alyssa Isler (New Hope, Pa./New Hope-Solebury) and senior Cori Younghans (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) inside the final 40 seconds to set the final score. 

The game was close early, but 21 first-half turnovers by the Mules eventually played a role in Gettysburg jumping ahead. Trailing 10-9, the Bullets went on a 13-2 run to grab its first double-figure lead at 22-12 with 3:59 left in the period. Muhlenberg capped the half with an eight-point run to pull to 27-22 at the break. 

The Bullets regained a double-figure advantage early in the second period as a three-pointer by Rianna Doane (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) put the score at 34-24 at 17:50. The lead would dip below double-digits only once until late in the contest. 

Gettysburg, which came into the game shooting over 71 percent from the foul line as a team, hit only 17-of-35 free throws (48.6 percent). The Bullets were also out-rebounded 47-34. The defense came up big, holding Muhlenberg to just 13-of-50 (26 percent) from the floor and forcing the Mules into 31 turnovers. 

Murphy finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Isler tallied 13 points and five assists, while Duggan posted 10 points and six rebounds. 

Leanna Tallamy and Abby Stenger each contributed 11 points for Muhlenberg. Tallamy and Erin Laney each picked up double-doubles, the former grabbing 11 boards and the latter recording 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

Gettysburg hosts conference-leading Johns Hopkins University (15-6, 12-3 CC) on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m.