Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - by Liz Weber -
Franklin& Marshall's junior forward Brittany Braxton recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 20 points and 17 rebounds, and teammate Miriam Marcis added a team-high 21 points, as the Diplomats (6-17, 5-11 CC) broke a seven game losing streak with a 70-53 win over Washington College (11-12, 5-11 CC) on Saturday afternoon at the Mayser Center.

It was all Braxton in the first half for the Diplomats as the junior forward hauled in 10 rebounds and recorded eight points, including 4-of-5 from the line, to lead a 23-6 run at the start of the half. Braxton knocked down three foul shots in 12 seconds of play to push F&M ahead 26-7 before Washington guard LaToya Turner took her team on a 12-0 run where she accounted for eight of the points with two jumpers and two lay-ups. Braxton finished off the half with last minute lay-up to put F&M ahead 30-19.

Washington turned up the heat in the second half with an immediate 7-0 run to shrink the deficit to four at 30-26; Marcis and Sarah Meisenberg interrupted the Shorewomen flow as they drained a 3-pointer and jumper, respectively, to push F&M back up 35-36, but it was not enough to stop Washington from keeping it close. Christie Rogers of Washington hit two 3-pointers with 14:09 and 12:28 left on the clock.

Washington pulled close as Turner and Jane O'Donell combined for their teams next 12 points, but baskets by Braxton and guard Amanda Miceli, kept F&M ahead 58-46 with 5:28 to go. It was all F&M in the final minutes of the game, as the F&M starters went on a 12-4 final run to finish the game ahead 70-53.

F&M capitalized on its second chance points, outscoring its opponent 17 to 10 in that category, while Washington's bench offered more support, accounting for 12 of the team's total points compared to a meager 2 from the F&M bench.

Marcis ended the afternoon 8-of-15 from the field, including 3-for-6 from three-point range, and collected three assists and one block. Miceli finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one block, and one assist, while Meisenberg hauled in 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal in the game.

Franklin & Marshall will travel to Westminster, MD on Tuesday, February 13 to face first place McDaniel College in its last away game of the season. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm.