LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (3-1) used a huge fourth quarter to defeat York (Pa.) (2-3), 63-55, in Tuesday evening's non-conference matchup at the Mayser Center. The Diplomats outscored the Spartans, 17-5, in the closing period to earn their first win over York since 1993.

Tied at 10-all with 3:16 remaining in the first, F&M gained the lead with a three-pointer and a free throw from Mackenzie Ward on back-to-back possessions. Steph Sexton then splashed a three-pointer to extend the Diplomats' lead to 17-10 with 2:18 left in the frame. York chipped in a pair of free throws to close the quarter reducing the F&M lead to 17-12.

The Diplomats continued to add to its lead to begin the second quarter with Lauren Rusas and Quinn Galligan each knocking down threes, while Lizzie Neville made a layup to extend the F&M advantage to nine. However, York battled back as the Spartans had a hot stretch from the field in the final four minutes of the period to take a 32-31 advantage into halftime.

Trailing 38-35 with six minutes left in the third, Rusas and Galligan connected on back-to-back three pointers to retake the lead for the Diplomats. A layup from Neville gave the home team a 43-38 advantage, but York once again caught fire from the field – ending the quarter on a 12-3 run to take 50-46 lead into the final period.

York held its largest lead of the night when Shealyn Ricks made a three-pointer to give the Spartans a 55-49 advantage with 7:33 left in regulation. However, F&M took over from there with Neville knocking down two free throws and Ward hitting a three-pointer to get F&M within one. Ward continued her hot offensive stretch as she converted an and-one opportunity to give the Diplomats a 57-55 lead with 4:23 remaining. Two minute later, Kennedy Wilburn drew the foul on a layup for another three-point play for the Diplomats to extend the lead to 60-55. F&M put the game out of reach with three free throws in the final two minutes to hold on and win its third-consecutive game.

In the fourth, F&M shot 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from the field and limited York to just 15.4 percent (2-of-13) shooting in the quarter.

Wilburn led the Diplomats with 16 points and eight rebounds. The senior also tallied three blocks and three steals on defense in the win. Rusas scored a career-high 12 points with two three-pointers in the game. Neville ended her night with 11 points, four steals and three assists in the contest. Ward recorded a career-high 10 points with two three-pointers coming off the bench.

As a team, F&M shot 33.9 percent (21-of-62) from the field and 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from beyond the arc in the contest.

Franklin & Marshall returns to the Mayser Center to host the Terry Greene Tip-Off Tournament this weekend with its first game coming against Lancaster Bible on Friday at 7:00 p.m.