LANCASTER, Pa. – Swarthmore used a 12-0 second-half run to defeat Franklin & Marshall 66-55 on Saturday afternoon in Centennial Conference (CC) women's basketball action. The Diplomats fell to 5-14, 2-10 CC, while the Garnet jumped to 6-12, 3-9 CC.

Down by four points (31-27) at the start of the second half, F&M rattled off five straight points to take a 32-31 advantage with 18:20 remaining in the contest. For the next six minutes, the teams traded points back-and-forth as the Diplomats' Shannon O'Connor put F&M ahead 41-40 with her triple at 12:04.

However, Swarthmore took the lead for good with its 12-0 run over the next four minutes of action. In the midst of the decisive spurt, the Garnet's Jessica Jowdy was fouled while shooting a three, and the shot attempt fell in as the unconventional four-point play put Swarthmore up 48-41 at 9:19.

Leslie Bacile kept the Diplomats within striking distance in the closing minutes, scoring the final seven points for F&M, but the Diplomats could not overcome the 12-0 run, as the Garnet went on to win 66-55.

F&M jumped out to a 10-4 advantage to begin the game and later increased the lead to 17-8 off an Anajha Burnett triple with 11:32 remaining in the first. Swarthmore responded and took its first lead of the day at 5:30 when Bridget Scott's jumper made it a 23-22 game.

The Diplomats stayed close in the final minutes of the first, and were only down by four heading into the break, but the Garnet's key run proved to be too much for F&M.

L. Bacile tied a career-high in points at 15, while Burnett also tied her career-high with 12. Sarah Haddon recorded 13 points, while Erica Brown registered 11 points and eight boards.

Elle Larsen, the CC's leading scorer, paced Swarthmore with a game-high 27 points and 11 rebounds. Jowdy notched 10 boards and nine points.

The Garnet held the slight edge from the floor at 38.5-36.5 percent, and Swarthmore outrebounded the Diplomats 44-37.

F&M is back in action on Wednesday when the Diplomats welcome John Hopkins to the Mayser Center at 6:00 p.m.