NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (8-3, 1-1 CC) came up short in its final game of the Music City Classic as it fell, 68-57, against Babson (5-4, 0-0 NEWMAC) Friday afternoon at the Student Activities Center on the campus of Welch College. A back-and-forth battle through three quarters was settled in the final frame as the Beavers outscored the Diplomats, 22-7, in the final 10 minutes of regulation to win the game.

Trailing 7-6 with 1:45 left in the first quarter, F&M connected on a three-pointer from Lizzie Neville to give the Diplomats the lead. After Babson tied the game with a mid-range jumper, Gia Sioutis responded with one of her own on the next possession. However, Babson knocked down two free throws to tie the game at 11-all through one quarter of play.

F&M found itself trailing 21-18 halfway through the second quarter when Ally Trebelev drained a three-pointer to tie the game up at 21-all. After a layup from Babson, Trebelev made a layup on the next possession, followed by Kayla McCrea splashing a three-pointer to give F&M a 26-23 advantage. The Beavers chipped in two points on a jumper, but a free throw from Mackenzie Ward gave the Diplomats a 27-25 lead entering the halftime break.

Babson got the first two points of the half, but a layup from Trebelev and a three-pointer from Lauren Rusas gave Franklin & Marshall its largest lead of the day at 32-27. Both teams traded baskets throughout the period, but F&M continued to hold off the Beavers as two free throws from Trebelev with 2:41 on the clock gave the Diplomats a 48-43 lead. Babson knocked down a three-pointer with 2:16 remaining in the quarter, but a layup from Kennedy Wilburn handed F&M a 50-46 advantage heading into the final frame.

The Beavers drilled a three-pointer and knocked down a jumper to reclaim the lead in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Trebelev responded with a mid-range jumper to give F&M a 52-51 lead. However, Babson took over with seven-consecutive points before the Diplomats added three at the charity stripe to cut the deficit to 58-55 with 3:47 remaining in the contest. From that point, Babson ended the game by outscoring the Diplomats, 10-2, in the closing minutes.

As a team, Franklin & Marshall shot 36.2 percent (21-of-58) from the field and 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from beyond the arc. Babson shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) from the field, including 57.1 percent (8-of-14) with three three-pointers during its big fourth quarter. The Beavers also outrebounded the Diplomats, 44-32, in the contest.

Trebelev tallied a career-high 22 points with two three-pointers and four rebounds. Neville followed with nine points, nine rebounds and five assists. Wilburn ended her night with eight points and nine boards.

Franklin & Marshall now heads to Madison, New Jersey on Tuesday, December 31 to face Drew at 2:00 p.m.