LANCASTER, PA - Franklin & Marshall College point guard Dana Johns (Sr., York, PA/Eastern York) made the most of senior night knocking down 12-of-22 from the field, including a school record seven-of-13 beyond the arc, and six-of-seven at the free throw line for a career high 38 points in her final home game as the Diplomats fell 95-85 to McDaniel College at the Mayser Center in Centennial Conference women's basketball action.
Johns, who shattered her previous career high of 31 points set in a 71-62 win over Ursinus on February 5, 2005 and tied on January 26, 2006 in a 78-71 OT win against Muhlenberg College, tied her school record for most three-pointers in a game as she drained seven-of-12 in her 31 point performance versus Muhlenberg earlier this season.
Further, her performance marked the 15th 30-point game in school history as she tied Laurie Baker (38 vs. Albright, 1975) for the fifth most points ever scored in a game in the history of women basketball at the College. In addition, she joins Baker as the only players in school history to have three or more 30 point games in their career as Baker recorded five, including a school record 66 points on February 28, 1978 versus Wilson College.
The game was a story of big performances as Kristy Costa made 12-of-14 from the field and 10-of-13 at the line for 34 points to lead the Green Terror (17-6, 11-5 Centennial Conference) to the victory as McDaniel moved to within one game of clinching the fifth and final Centennial Conference playoff berth.
McDaniel never trailed in the game as the Green Terror opened the contest with a 9-1 run. Franklin & Marshall cut the lead to six points at 11-5, but the Terror pulled away to lead by 13 points at 26-13 with 12:41 left in the first half.
Trailing 42-30 with 4:46 left until halftime, the Diplomats rallied to cut the lead down to four points as Johns hit a three-pointer, forward Brittany Braxton (So., Pearl River, NY/Nanuet) put in a lay-up and a foul shot and guard Christy Strunk (Sr., Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) made a lay-up to trim the margin to 42-38. McDaniel closed out the half with an 8-7 run to hang on for a 50-45 lead at halftime.
Franklin & Marshall was unable to cut the lead below four points the rest of the way as the Diplomats closed to within 54-50 with 18:02 left in the second half, but the Green Terror went on a 7-2 run to go in front 64-52 with 15:05 on the clock.
The Diplomats came back to close to within 80-75 with 5:32 to play, but McDaniel engineered a 10-2 spurt to go ahead 90-77 with 1:29 left on the clock.
Johns scored the Diplomats final eight points as she made six-of-eight at the line and added a jumper as she increased her career scoring total to 1,111 points with 301 rebounds, 248 steals, 285 assists and 172 three-pointers on 464 attempts (37.07%) in 91 games.
Historically, she ranks 11th in scoring, third in assists and steals, second in three point field goal percentage and first in three-point field goals in school history.
For the Diplomats, Braxton recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Sarah Meisenberg (Fr., Severna Park, MD/Severn School) tacked on 12 points and five assists.
Allison Biggs and Robbin Gregg added 10 points each for the Green Terror, while Katy Powell chipped in nine points and 11 assists as McDaniel notched its seventh straight win over the Diplomats and evened the all-time series at 28-28.
Franklin & Marshall will conclude the season on February 19 at Johns Hopkins University. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.
