ALLENTOWN, PA -- Muhlenberg College made 16-of-21 free throw opportunities in the second half while holding Franklin & Marshall to two foul shots as the Mules overcame a 37-25 halftime deficit to manage the Diplomats in women's basketball, 66-58.
In a game marked by a 21-of-27 performance by the Mules at the foul-line, the Diplomats got the better of play outshooting Muhlenberg from the field (39.7% to 29.2%) and three-point distance (53.3% to 14.3%) while making more field goals (25-of-63 to 21-of-72) and three-pointers (8-of-15 to 3-of-21).
However, Muhlenberg (3-0, 1-0 Centennial Conference) overcame the statistics to drop in 41 second half points off 12 field goals, one three pointer and 16 foul shots while holding Franklin & Marshall (0-3, 0-1 Centennial Conference) to nine field goals and three treys to take the victory.
Franklin & Marshall College jumped on the Mules early in the game as point guard Dana Johns (So., York, PA/Eastern York) scored 12 points in the half on four-of-six shooting from the field along with four-of-five from beyond the three-point arch.
Preseason All-America center Amy Abernathy (Sr., Far Hills, NJ/American School-Paris) poured in 12 points on six-of-nine shooting from the field while grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking five Muhlenberg shots in the half to key the Diplomats to a 12 point lead at the half.
In the second half, the game belonged to Muhlenberg guard Gwen Doyle who scored 10 points with two field goals, a three pointer and five free throws to key the Mules to their third win of the season.
In a game which featured 18 Muhlenberg players seeing two or more minutes on the court, the Mules Jill Friedman and Doyle led their team with 10 points apiece, while Friedman chipped in a team high eight rebounds.
A key to the game was the offensive glass as Muhlenberg held a 21-to-14 advantage around the opposing rim, while the Diplomats held a 32-to-23 advantage on the defensive glass.
Overall, Abernathy, guard Courtney Tierney (Sr., Princeton, NJ/The Hun School) and Johns led the way for the Diplomats with 14 points. In addition, Abernathy added 18 rebounds, two assists, six blocked shots and three steals, while Johns chipped in six assists and five steals.
Franklin & Marshall College will return to the court on December 4th at home versus Messiah College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
