LANCASTER, Pa.- The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (1-2) fell in overtime, 53-48, in Saturday's home opener hosting Misericordia (2-2) on Saturday afternoon.
The F&M offense was held to a 21.7% field goal percentage in the contest including an overtime period where the team converted just one-of-ten shots from the field. The Cougars shot 39.6% (19-of-48) from the field and converted four-of-eight attempts in overtime. The Diplomats won the rebound battle, 48-40, and had five less turnovers than their opponents (15-20), but shooting struggles proved too much to overcome.
Mackenzie Ward set a new career high for scoring with 21 points with three triples while rebounding eight times with two assists.
Fiona Reckner recorded eight points, two blocked shots,and four rebounds, while
Cleo Dallaris led the side with a career-high 13 rebounds in 27 minutes from the bench.
Gianna Modica totaled nine rebounds and five points.
The Cougars opened the contest with a pair of jumpers and a free throw to lead by five through the first three minutes.
Gia Sioutis sank three-of-four free throws from F&M's next two possessions to cut into the lead, while Ward countered a Misericordia layup with a triple to trail by just one point at 7-6 through the first six minutes. Misericordia totaled seven unanswered points from their next three possessions, while a
Steph Sexton three put F&M behind 14-9 through ten minutes.
The Diplomats opened the second quarter by scoring nine unanswered points led by five points from Ward and a three-pointer from Modica. The Cougars swung momentum back the other way with a 6-0 run over the next three minutes to claim the lead back at 20-18. The teams traded the lead up to the halftime break, as Misericordia went into the intermission with a 24-23 advantage following a layup on their last possession.
The offenses combined for a 16.0% field goal percentage in a low-scoring third quarter. A Misericordia layup was followed by layups from Ward and Sioutis to give F&M control of the game at 27-26 with 6:31 remaining. The Diplomats were kept scoreless in the remaining time, while Misericordia scored four points the rest of the way to carry a three-point lead into the fourth quarter.
A Cougars three to begin the fourth was countered by eight-straight points from F&M with four points coming via Ward for a 35-33 advantage. The Cougars drew level on a layup, but F&M responded with 6-1 run, where all points came via Recker, that gave the hosts a 41-36 advantage with three minutes to go. The Diplomats held a five-point lead with 90 seconds to go that soon dwindled to two on a Misericordia triple. Two successful free throws on their next possession sent the game to overtime.
Consecutive Misericordia layups put the hosts four points behind inside of the first minute, while the Cougars added to their lead, which stood at 49-43 with 2:30 to play. Ward cut the lead to three with a shot beyond the arc, the lone field goal for the Diplomats in the period, but F&M could get no closer in the remaining time.
F&M will look to break the two-game losing skid with a trip to FDU-Florham on Monday, November 16, at 6:00 p.m.
