CHESTERTOWN, MD - Franklin & Marshall College center Lauren Dodrill (Sr., Timonium, MD/Roland Park) recorded the 16th 20 rebound game in school history as she recorded a game high 19 points, four steals and 20 rebounds to lead the Diplomats to a 73-62 win at Washington College in Centennial Conference women's basketball action.
Dodrill's performance is record setting as she tied former center Amy Abernathy '04 for second place in single season 20 rebound games at two as she pulled down 22 boards and added 16 points in an 86-58 win over Haverford on November 30, 2004 in the Mayser Center.
Further, Dodrill is the first F&M player since Tina Breithaupt '94 pulled down 20 rebounds on February 9, 1991 at Marywood University in a 68-50 win to record 20 rebounds on the road. In the time since Breithaupt achieved the feat, F&M has received eight 20-rebound games in the Mayser Center, including five by Abernathy and Dodrill's 22 boards against Haverford earlier this season.
Dodrill's performance highlighted a game in which the Diplomats received double digit scoring from four players, including 15 from point guard Dana Johns (Jr., York, PA/Eastern York), 13 from guard Christy Strunk (Jr., Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) and 10 by guard Brittany Braxton (Fr., Pearl River, NY/Nanuet).
The Diplomats trailed only once in the game as Lauren Duckworth converted a lay-up to put Washington in front 19-18 with 4:53 left in the first half. However, Dodrill made a lay-up 13 seconds later to ignite a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 30-19 lead with 1:38 left in the half as F&M led 31-23 at halftime.
Franklin & Marshall opened the second half with a three-pointer by Emily Weaver (So., Prince Frederick, MD/Calverton) to push the lead out to 34-23, but the Shorewomen used a 9-0 run to cut the margin to 34-32 with 15:50 left on the game clock.
Dodrill responded by making a lay-up to start a 6-0 run for a 40-32 lead as the Shorewomen failed to cut the lead to less than four points for the remainder of the game.
Washington attempted to take with 4:57 left as Duckworth converted a lay-up and foul shot to pull the Shorewomen to within 55-51, but Strunk converted a pair of free throws and Weaver finished a lay-up off an assist from Strunk to push the lead out to eight points with 4:15 on the clock as the Diplomats rolled to the 11 point win.
For Washington, Irene Pastorino tallied 15 points, while Duckworth and Regina Barrett chipped in 14 points apiece as the Shorewomen fall to 2-12 on the season, 1-7 in Centennial Conference play.
The key to the game was F&M's foul shooting as the Diplomats converted 19-of-30 from the charity stripe, including 14-of-24 in the second half, while holding the Garnet to nine-of-12 from the line in the game.
Franklin & Marshall (5-8, 4-4 CC) will return to action on January 20 at home in the Mayser Center versus Centennial Conference foe Dickinson College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
