Box Score

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – A last-minute free throw from Kenna Williams helped Franklin & Marshall's women's basketball team to a 51-50 victory over Colby in the opening round of the Smith Holiday Tournament on Sunday. The Diplomats improved to 4-5, 2-3 CC while the Mules fell to 3-6.

F&M and Colby traded short runs to tie the score at 11 points apiece, but the Diplomats ended the opening frame on a 9-5 run. A Mia Grundberg jumper to cap the run gave the Diplomats a 20-16 lead after the first quarter.

Williams and Alisyn Narracci each drained jumpers as the Diplomats kept the Mules at arm's length in the second. F&M entered the break with a 27-23 advantage.

Maia Lockhart hit a pair of shots, including a three-pointer, to open the second half. The sophomore scored five as F&M opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run. A Grace Coutu layup in the waning moments helped Colby cut the deficit to five points, 41-36, entering the final stanza.

After the Diplomats took a 50-42 lead with just over three minutes to go, the Mules began their comeback. Colby scored eight unanswered points to tie the contest at 50 with just 13 seconds to go. Out of a timeout, the Mules fouled Williams to send F&M's leading free-throw shooter to the charity stripe. The sophomore knocked down the second of two free throws with just one second left. Colby could not convert the desperation three-pointer as F&M emerged with the victory.

Sarosha Parsons led all scorers with 18 points on 7-of-19 (36.8 percent) shooting.

Williams finished just shy of a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds, pouring in 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. Lockhart tacked on a season-high seven points and nine boards. 

Emily Moran tallied a season-high four assists while corralling seven rebounds.

The Diplomats face host Smith in the conclusion of the Smith Holiday Tournament on Monday at 4:00 p.m.