LANCASTER, Pa. – A steady Haverford managed to hold off Franklin & Marshall as the Diplomats dropped a 63-52 decision to the Fords on Saturday afternoon in Centennial Conference (CC) women's basketball. The loss took F&M to 4-15, 3-10 CC, while Haverford improved to 12-6, 7-4 CC.

The Diplomats fell behind early as five points from Olivia Walsh powered the Fords to a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes. Haley Pilone scored six points in the last four and a half minutes to close the gap for F&M, but Haverford countered with two late buckets to take a 15-10 lead into the first intermission.

That lead, though slim, proved to be one that the Fords would never give up. A three from Pilone and a pair of foul shots from Erica Brown brought the Diplomats to within two, 17-15, but a 9-3 Haverford run ended the half and gave the Fords a 26-18 advantage at the break.

Haverford threatened to pull away early in the third, extending a lead as great as 13 before Lindsey Powers scored ten points in the last seven minutes of the quarter to keep F&M close. Powers tallied 12 points in the third quarter, but the Diplomats still faced a 47-38 deficit heading into the last quarter.

A back-and-forth final period saw F&M pull as close as seven when Powers hit a three to make the score 59-52 with 1:06 remaining. Haverford did not allow the Diplomats to edge any closer, sinking four of six free throws in the final moments to hold on for the close victory.

Powers led the Diplomats in scoring, shooting 6-12 from the field and 3-6 from behind the arc to total 16 points.

Sarah Haddon (12 points, 10 rebounds), Pilone (11 points), and Brown (10 points, 10 rebounds) joined Powers in double digits, while Haddon and Brown each finished with double-doubles. Haddon added three blocks while Brown tallied two.

Walsh and Sierra Berkel paced the Fords, recording 17 points apiece. Samantha Wetzel contributed 10 points, completing her double-double with a game-high 16 rebounds.

F&M returns to the court on Tuesday, hosting Muhlenberg at the Mayser Center. That game is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m.