HAVERFORD, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall dropped a 49-38 contest against Haverford Thursday evening in Centennial Conference (CC) action. The Diplomats fell to 2-5, 1-3 CC, while the Fords improved to 6-0, 4-0 CC. 

The game was close in the opening minutes of the first half as F&M led 6-5 with 13:48 remaining, but the Diplomats put together a 9-4 spurt over the next seven minutes to take a 15-9 lead with 6:48 to go. Haverford countered and closed out the half on a 16-4 run to take a 25-19 advantage going into halftime.

F&M came to within four points at 28-24 with 16:02 remaining in the game, but Haverford followed with a 15-4 run over the next nine minutes to take a 43-28 lead with 7:03 left in the contest.

The Diplomats crawled back into the game by outscoring the Fords 10-2 over the next five minutes to make it 45-38 at 1:57. However the Fords' Shannon Smith connected on a jumper to make it 47-38 with 52 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.

F&M finished the game shooting 30.9 percent from the floor, while Haverford shot 33.3 percent.

Kristina McCarthy recorded a game-high 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and a pair of blocks, while Emma Lisle and Sarah Haddon tallied eight points for the Diplomats. 

Elizabeth Lynch paced the Fords with 14 points, while Jacquelyne Pizzuto scored eight.

F&M returns to the court Saturday to face off against Bryn Mawr. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.