LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (11-9, 4-6 CC) came up short against (RV) McDaniel (16-3, 5-3 CC), 54-44, in Saturday afternoon's Centennial Conference (CC) matchup at the Mayser Center. The Diplomats stormed back from a double-digit second-half deficit to get within four of the Green Terror late in the fourth quarter. However, the visitors held off the Diplomats in the closing minutes to win the game.

The teams traded baskets early to bring the score to 8-8 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. McDaniel connected on a jumper to take a two-point lead, but Hailey Cabanas made a free throw to cut the deficit to half with one minute to go. The Green Terror made a layup, but Cleo Dallaris matched with one of her own during the final seconds to reduce the visitors' lead to 12-11 through one quarter of play.

McDaniel held a 15-14 lead halfway through the second quarter when Gia Sioutis connected from mid-range to give F&M the lead. From that point, the Green Terror scored 10-straight points to take a 26-16 advantage late in the frame. A pair of free throws from Lauren Rusas stopped the run and cut McDaniel's lead to 26-18 entering the halftime break.

McDaniel continued to apply pressure on offense, pushing its lead to 35-19 at the 7:51 mark of the third quarter. The Diplomats began chipping away at the Green Terror's lead, starting with a three-pointer from Kayla McCrea. Lizzie Neville converted an and-one opportunity to get the hosts within 10 with 5:31 left in the quarter. The teams traded baskets to bring the score to 46-32 with 1:26 remaining in the frame. Mackenzie Ward drained a three-pointer, followed by Sioutis making a layup to get the Diplomats within nine through three quarters of action.

McDaniel started the fourth quarter with a layup to bring its lead to 48-37. From there, F&M raised the pressure on offense, starting with a three-pointer from Rusas. McCrea capitalized off a steal by converting an and-one to bring F&M within five. A free throw from Neville cut the McDaniel lead to 48-44 with 4:11 remaining in regulation. Despite the late run from F&M, the Green Terror scored the final six points of the game to turn away the Diplomats.

Franklin & Marshall shot 23.1 percent (15-of-65) from the field, while McDaniel recorded a field goal percentage of 34.6 percent (18-of-52) in the game. The Green Terror also outrebounded the Diplomats, 51-39, in the contest.

Sioutis led F&M with 11 points, while Rusas followed with 10 points in the game. Rusas and McCrea tallied three steals each for the home team in the contest. Neville ended the afternoon with nine points and nine rebounds in the effort. Ward registered nine rebounds and three assists in the game.

Franklin & Marshall hosts its final non-conference game of the 2025-26 regular season on Wednesday, taking on Salisbury at 6:00 p.m.