LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (11-4, 2-2 CC) overpowered McDaniel (10-4, 1-2 CC), 62-57, in Saturday afternoon's Centennial Conference (CC) game at the Mayser Center. A one-score game in the final minute of regulation, F&M stood tall and held off the Green Terror's late attack to earn its second CC win of the season.

F&M started fast to earn an early lead over McDaniel, but the Green Terror kept within striking distance. With the Diplomats leading 20-18 halfway through the second quarter, the teams traded baskets as the first half was coming to a close. Lauren Rusas made a layup at the 3:37 mark, but McDaniel quickly answered with a jumper on the next possession to keep the deficit at two. After Lizzie Neville drained a pair of free throws, McDaniel scored the next four points to tie the game at 24-all with one minute remaining in the half. However, Quinn Galligan knocked down a jumper from mid-range to give the Diplomats a 26-24 advantage entering the halftime intermission.

Tied at 32-all at the halfway point of the third quarter, F&M scored 10-unanswered points to create separation from the visitors. After Ally Trebelev went a perfect 2-of-2 at the charity stripe, the senior drilled a three-pointer on the next possession to give the Diplomats a 36-32 lead. F&M continued the run with Neville making a layup to extend the lead to six. Trebelev made layups on consecutive-possessions to give the blue and white a 42-32 advantage with under two minutes remaining in the period. McDaniel reduced the deficit to seven, but two free throws from Trebelev in the final seconds gave the Diplomats a 44-35 lead moving into the final frame.

Franklin & Marshall grew its lead to 11 as Kennedy Wilburn knocked down a pair of free throws at the 5:56 mark of the fourth quarter. However, McDaniel battled back with a 10-2 run to cut the Diplomats' lead to 54-51 with 1:17 left in regulation. F&M led 58-57 when Neville made a pair of clutch free throws to put the Diplomats ahead by three. McDaniel had an opportunity to tie the game in the closing seconds as the Green Terror fired a three-point attempt from the corner, but the shot was off-target. Neville grabbed the rebound, took the foul and knocked down two free throws to ice the game and give F&M the win.

The Diplomats as a team shot an efficient 41.7 percent (20-of-48) from the field and 82.6 percent (19-of-23) from the free throw line in the victory. F&M also narrowly outrebound McDaniel, 31-30, in the contest.

Trebelev led the game with 20 points and two three-pointers in the game. Neville closely followed with 14 points, six rebounds and three steals in the win. Galligan tallied seven points with four assists, while Wilburn recorded seven points and nine rebounds in the victory.

Franklin & Marshall looks to continue its momentum when travels to face No. 12 Gettysburg on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.