LANCASTER, PA - Franklin & Marshall point guard Dana Johns (Jr., York, PA/Eastern York) connected on 11-of-17 from the field, including four-of-eight from beyond the arc, and five-of-seven at the free throw line for a game high 31 points as the Diplomats downed Ursinus College 71-62 in Centennial Conference women's basketball at the Mayser Center.
Historically, Johns' performance marks the 13th 30-point game in school history and the first since center Amy Abernathy '04 tallied 30 points in an 80-66 win over Haverford in Mayser on February 15, 2003. Further, she tied Laurie Baker for the 10th most points ever scored in a game as Baker registered 31 points in a win over the Bears in 1975.
Overall, four Diplomats reached double digits in the game as guard Maura Lentz (Sr., Baltimore, MD/Catonsville) dropped in 11, forward Emily Weaver (So., Prince Frederick, MD/Calverton) added 10 and center Lauren Dodrill (Sr., Timonium, MD/Roland Park) scored 14 points and pulled down 16 rebounds for her Centennial Conference leading 13th double-double of the season.
The win keeps F&M in the Centennial Conference playoff hunt as the Diplomats (9-11, 7-6 Centennial Conference) trail Gettysburg College (11-9, 8-5 CC) by one game in the race for the fifth and final playoff spot.
Against the Bears, the teams battled back and forth throughout the first half as Franklin & Marshall led 17-15 with 7:08 left in the half. The Diplomats pushed the lead out to eight points at 23-15 as Dodrill hit a jumper, Johns drained a three-pointer and Dodrill made the front-end of a pair of free throws for a 6-0 run. Trailing 25-19 with 3:13 until halftime, Ursinus chipped away at the lead before Kelly Borrell made the back-end of a pair of free throws for a 27-27 tie at the break.
The teams traded baskets to open the second half before Johns hit a lay-up off a steal to put F&M in front 35-33 with 16:54 left on the game clock to go ahead for good. The Diplomats pushed the lead out to 44-35 before Mary Kate Daley hit back-to-back jumpers at 13:14 and 12:16 to slice the margin to 44-39.
Lentz countered for F&M with a three-pointer before Johns connected on a lay-up and a free throw for a 50-39 lead at the 11:40 mark.
Leading 63-52 with 4:44 left following a three-pointer by Johns, Franklin & Marshall saw its lead melt as Alison Walker drained a three-pointer at 4:21, Julia Tramontana hit a lay-up and a free throw at 3:26 and Daley connected on a lay-up at 2:42 to pull the Bears to within three points at 63-60.
Dodrill chipped in a lay-up at 2:30 to inch the lead back to five points, but Daley countered with a lay-up at 2:07 to keep the Bears within striking distance at 65-62.
However, Johns made a pair of free throws at 1:43 and another free throw at :23.1, Weaver tacked on a pair of shots at the charity stripe at :18.4 and Dodrill swished a free throw at :10.8 for the 71-62 final score.
The story of the game was Johns who drained seven-of-nine from the field, including two-of-four from long range, and five-of-seven at the free throw line for 21 second half points as the Diplomats outscored the Bears 44-35 down the stretch for the win.
For Ursinus, Daley led the way with 22 points, while Walker and Molly Guntli added 10 points apiece.
Overall, Ursinus shot 37.3% (22-of-59) from the field, 14.3% (two-of-14) from beyond the arc and 84.2% (16-of-19) from the free throw line with eight assists, 14 turnovers, five blocks and 11 steals, while F&M connected on 41.5% (22-of-53) from the field, 50,0% (seven-of-14) from beyond the arc and 74.1% (20-of-27) from the free throw line with 10 assists, 20 turnovers, five blocks and six steals.
Franklin & Marshall (9-11, 7-6 Centennial Conference) will return to action on February 8 at Dickinson College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
