Nov. 17, 2007

Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - Juniors Sarah Meisenberg and Amanda Miceli combined for 48 points to lead Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team over Goucher 78-71 in the first round of the 2007 Terry Greene Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Meisenberg recorded a game-high 26 points and three steals, while Miceli registered 22 points to help the Diplomats (1-0) open the season on a good note and advance to the championship game against Alvernia tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Shadae Swan went 7-for-10 from the floor for 19 points to lead the Gophers (0-1). Amber Smith added 13 points and Taqwisha Richarson grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds in the loss.

Down by seven points with 14:51 left in the second half, F&M fought back to take its first lead after Brittany Braxton recorded back-to-back lay-ups for a 61-58 edge that they would not relinquish. Richardson responded with a jumper at the six-minute mark, before guard Beth Holt drained a 3-pointer to start a six-point rally and push the Diplomat lead to 68-60.

Amber Smith drove in for two points to take the score to 68-62, but it was not enough to regain the lead Goucher once had. Alison Menna hit a jumper in the paint to make it 72-64. F&M saw its biggest lead at 78-67 and finished with a seven-point margin.

The first half saw eight ties and six lead changes, with the Gophers holding the lead for eight of the final nine minutes for a slight 33-31 advantage at halftime thanks to a good layup by Swan with time expiring.

The difference was in turnovers, as F&M kept it to 11, while Goucher more than doubled that figure with 23 giveaways. Also, the home squad managed 12 steals, and the Gophers had only four.

Braxton finished with seven points, nine rebounds and two steals. In addition to her 24 points, Miceli added four rebounds, three assists and two steals on the afternoon.