CHESTERTOWN, MD - Guards Sarah Meisenberg (Fr., Severna Park, MD/Severn School) and Dana Johns (Sr., York, PA/Eastern York) combined for 36 points as the Franklin & Marshall College women's basketball team downed Washington College 56-46.
Johns led all scorers in the game with 23 points as she hit six-of-21 from the field, including five-of-12 from beyond the arc, and six-of-six at the free throw line, while Meisenberg pulled down seven rebounds and corralled three steals with 13 points as the Diplomats (9-14, 6-10 Centennial Conference) improve to 15-1 all-time against the Shorewomen (5-18, 2-14 Centennial Conference) and hold an 11-game winning streak over Washington.
Historically, Johns raised her career scoring total to 1,073 points as she ranks 11th in scoring in program history. Further, she now has 246 steals, 282 assists and 165 three-pointers as she ranks first in treys, third in steals and third in assists at Franklin & Marshall.
Leading 29-22 at halftime, the Diplomats put the game away in the opening minutes of the second half as Franklin & Marshall went on a 13-0 run to take a 45-26 lead with 14:18 left on the game clock.
Guard Christy Strunk (Sr., Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) fueled the run as she hit a three-pointer and a jumper, while Johns added a trey, Meisenberg chipped in a lay-up and a free throw and forward Brittany Braxton (So., Pearl River, NY/Nanuet) tacked on a lay-up to give F&M a 19 point lead.
Trailing 51-34 with 11:12 to play, the Shorewomen rallied to cut the lead to eight points at 51-43 with 2:36 to play, but the Diplomats hit their free throws down the stretch to take the 10-point victory.
Strunk added eight points and eight rebounds, Braxton tacked on four points and 13 rebounds and forward Emily Weaver (Sr., Prince Frederick, MD/Calverton) chipped in one point with 11 rebounds for the Diplomats.
LaToya Turner led Washington with 13 points and six rebounds, while Brianne Slizofski added 11 points.
Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on February 14 versus McDaniel College in the home finale. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
