Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team shot 52.1 percent from the floor and had four players in double figures to defeat Washington 69-56 in Centennial Conference (CC) action on Saturday.

The Diplomats (12-9, 9-5 CC) fended off a second-half rally by the Shoremen (10-10, 5-9 CC) to collect their ninth conference win to remain in a tie for second place in the CC. Beth Holt led F&M with 15 points and six assists, while Sarah Meisenberg tallied 10 points and seven rebounds.

Sally O'Donnell paced all scorers with 20 points, knocking down six three pointers. Brianne Slizofski chipped in 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Washington went 4-for-4 from the floor to start the game, hitting three triples and a layup by Slizofski to take an 11-2 lead. The lead grew to 10 points on another three pointer by O'Donnell and Slizofski at the 15:14 mark.

From that point on, the Diplomat defense only allowed six points by Washington, scoring the next 24 out of 30 points to take an eight point lead at halftime. Cara Landolfi netted 10 of her 12 points in the first half.

Down by one, Allison Bauer dropped a layup and then drained a three pointer to give F&M the lead to end the half.

The Shoremen grabbed the lead on one occasion and came within one point five times, but the Diplomats turned a three-point lead into double digits in the final 4:27 of the game. Holt went 4-for-4 from the line and Meisenberg recorded two straight layups, while Menna drove in for the final layup and a 13-point victory.

F&M returns to action on Tuesday at Ursinus. Game time is 7 p.m.