LANCASTER, Pa. – Johns Hopkins used a late run in the final four minutes to knock off Franklin & Marshall, 57-46, in Centennial Conference (CC) women's basketball action Wednesday at the Mayser Center. The Blue Jays improved to 16-2, 11-2 CC while the Diplomats fell to 12-6, 9-4 CC.

With the score dead locked at 45-45 with 5:56 remaining, Hopkins' Alex Vassila went to the line and hit the front end of two shot to put JHU up by one. Vassila missed the second but grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked it out Chantel Mattiola who drained a three-pointer to stretch the lead to four. The four-point possession began an 11-1 run that secured the victory for the Blue Jays.

The Diplomats used a tenacious defense throughout the first half to keep the scoring close. Hopkins led by as many as 10 before F&M came storming back as the half came to a close. The Diplomats went on a 16-6 run to even the score at 19-19 following two free throws from Colleen Bott.

The two sides exchanged buckets before Johns Hopkins responded with a Haley Bush jumper to regain the lead. Bott once again delivered for the Diplomats sinking a pair of free throws. Less than two minutes later, F&M took its first lead of the game when Alexa Barbush hit a foul shot to make it 26-25. The Blue Jays converted on a lay-up just before the half to take a 27-26 lead into the break.

The Diplomats used a Megan Pauley lay up to go up 28-27, to open the second half. Johns Hopkins' Stephanie Fong made a lay up seconds later to regain the lead for good. The Blue Jays led by as many as 11 in the remainder of the contest with the Diplomats forcing two ties.  

Barbush paced F&M with a team-high nine points and a game-high four steals. Bott added eight points while Allison Bauer contributed seven. Pauley had an all-around night, with six points, nine boards, three assists.

The Blue Jays were led by Vassila who recorded a double-double with a game-high 12 points and 11 rebounds. Fong added 10 points and eight boards on the night for Hopkins.

F&M will return to the floor Saturday when the Diplomats host Haverford at 2:00 p.m.

JHU 57, FRANKLIN & MARSHALL 46

JHU (16-2, 11-2 CC)
Alex Vassila 5-8 2-3 12; Stephanie Fong 3-11 4-5 10; Chantel Mattiola 3-9 0-0 9; Sarah Higbee 1-5 6-6 8; Haley Bush 3-5 0-0 6; KaraLea Follmer 1-4 0-0 2; Kat Fox 1-5 0-1 2; Maggie Fruehan 1-1 0-0 2; Fatu Conteh 1-2 0-0 2; Katie Brooks 1-2 0-0 2; Ciara McCullagh 1-2 0-0 2; Jessica Brown 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-54 12-15 57.

FRANKLIN & MARSHALL (12-6, 9-4 CC)
Alexa Barbush 1-8 7-10 9; Colleen Bott 2-5 4-4 8; Allison Bauer 3-8 0-3 7; Megan Pauley 3-8 0-0 6; Emma Lisle 2-5 2-2 6; Elizabeth Snyder 2-11 0-4 5; Kristina McCarthy 0-3 3-4 3; Emily Johnson 1-1 0-1 2. Totals 14-49 16-28 46.

JHU...........................   27   30  -   57
Franklin & Marshall...........   26   20  -   46

3-point goals--JHU 3-3 (Chantel Mattiola 3-3), Franklin & Marshall 2-9 (Elizabeth Snyder 1-5; Allison Bauer 1-3; Megan Pauley 0-1).

Fouled out--JHU-Fatu Conteh, Franklin & Marshall-None.

Rebounds--JHU 45 (Alex Vassila 11), Franklin & Marshall 33 (Megan Pauley 9).

Assists--JHU 11 (Chantel Mattiola 4; Stephanie Fong 4), Franklin & Marshall 7 (Megan Pauley
3).

Total fouls--JHU 21, Franklin & Marshall 14.

Technical fouls--JHU-None, Franklin & Marshall-None.

A-273