Jan. 6, 2007

Box Score

ANNEVILLE, Pa. - Franklin & Marshall's Brittany Braxton established a new Lebanon Valley Gymnasium record hauling in 18 rebounds to go with her 17 points, but the Diplomats were unable to close the deal falling 58-52 on Saturday. Sophomore guard Sarah Meisenberg added six points, seven rebounds, and five assists for the Diplomats.

Lebanon Valley struggled to find its shots in the early on, going 2-for-16 to open the game. In the meantime, Franklin & Marshall was building a 16-4 lead following a 12-0 run, capped by a Joanna DiPallo lay-up with 10:40 left in the opening half.

The Diplomats stretched their lead to as much as 14 (21-7) after a Miriam Marcis three-pointer with 9:10 to go, but LVC climbed back into the game late in the half. With F&M leading 25-14, the Dutchmen used a 9-1 run to pull to within three (26-23) after a lay-up from Moore with 2:20 to go. Braxton dropped in a lay-up of her own just before the buzzer to give F&M a 30-25 halftime advantage.

Lebanon Valley continued its surge in the second half, opening the stanza on a 9-2 run to take its first lead of the game (34-32) on a steal and lay-up from Moore four minutes into the period. After one tie and four lead changes, the Dutchmen went ahead to stay when Geiger splashed in a 3 with 11:09 on the clock, putting LVC on top 41-39.

A conventional 3-point play from junior guard Jenna Gambino gave the Dutchmen a seven-point (52-45) lead with 4:21 left but F&M kept it close. Braxton made the second of two foul shots with 3:06 to go and sophomore guard Amanda Miceli nailed a pair of free throws with 2:35 remaining to make it a four-point game (52-48). The Diplomats had a chance to cut the gap to one, but Gambino rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Miceli with 2:17 left.

Franklin & Marshall was forced to foul down the stretch, but the Dips were unable to take advantage as LVC finished just 3-for-8 at the charity stripe over the final 1:02. The Valley never trailed by less than five the rest of the way, as F&M managed only four free throws in the final 1:37.

The Diplomats were guilty of 26 turnovers while LVC turned it over 20 times. Lebanon Valley was able to muster 30 points on the miscues, compared to the 15 points F&M scored on LVC's turnovers.

After shooting 45.8% in the opening half, F&M connected on just 23.8% of their shots in the second half to finish with a 35.6% mark.

Lebanon Valley shots 47.8% in the second half after shooting 36.7% in the opening stanza. LVC shot 41.5% for the game.

With the loss, F&M's third in as many contests, the Diplomats fall to 3-7. Franklin & Marshall returnd to Centennial Conference play on Tuesday against #23 Muhlenberg. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.