ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (13-10, 6-6 CC) used a gritty second-half effort to come out on top of a 56-52 victory over Muhlenberg (10-12, 5-7 CC) in Wednesday evening's Centennial Conference (CC) matchup. The Diplomats outscored the Mules, 39-29, in the final 20 minutes to earn an important late-season victory.

A defensive battle early saw Muhlenberg score the first three points of the game on a three-point play, but Hailey Cabanas matched on the other end with a three-pointer for F&M's first points of the contest. After the Mules made a layup at the 3:42 mark, Lizzie Neville and Fiona Reckner both chipped in free throws to tie the game at 5-5. The hosts knocked down a pair of free throws on the next possession, but Lauren Rusas connected on a hook shot in the closing minutes to tie the score at 7-7 through one quarter of action.

The Mules took a 12-10 advantage to begin the second quarter, but Reckner splashed a three-pointer at the 5:51 mark to give F&M its first lead of the game. From there, Muhlenberg started a 9-2 run to take a 21-15 lead with 1:30 left in the half. Kayla McCrea cut the deficit down to four after making a pair of free throws, but Muhlenberg made a layup in the final seconds to take a 23-17 lead into the halftime intermission.

The hosts added two to their lead with a pair of free throws on the first possession. However, F&M began chipping away at the deficit, starting with a layup from McCrea to get within five. After two free throws from Gia Sioutis, Neville drove the lane and made a layup to get the Diplomats within two. After Muhlenberg connected from mid-range, Neville made a layup on the other end to cut the score to 27-25 with 5:58 remaining in the frame. The Mules fought back to grow their lead to 34-28 with 2:28 left in the period, but the Diplomats wouldn't go away. Neville made a free throw and followed with a jumper on the next possession to reduce the deficit to three. After Muhlenberg drained a three-pointer, both teams added a free throw to bring the hosts' lead to 38-32. A layup from Steph Sexton at the buzzer got F&M within four entering the final quarter of play.

The Diplomats started the fourth quarter on fire from the field, starting with a big three-pointer from Rusas to get within one. A layup from Sioutis gave F&M a 39-38 edge with 8:57 remaining in regulation. The Diplomats weren't done yet as Gianna Modica splashed a three-pointer, followed by two free throws from McCrea to extend the visitors' lead to 44-38. The Mules chipped the deficit down to 50-49 with 2:28 on the clock, but McCrea converted a big and-one opportunity to push the F&M lead back to four. Muhlenberg cut the deficit down to two in the final minute, but a pair of free throws from Neville iced the game as the Diplomats held onto their sixth CC victory of the season.

F&M shot 32.7 percent (16-of-49) from the field and 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from beyond the arc in the contest. The Diplomats also narrowly outrebounded the Mules, 36-35 in the win.

Neville poured in 14 points with nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals in the game. McCrea also recorded 14 points with three blocks and two steals. Rusas followed with 11 points, three three-pointers, two blocks, and two steals in the victory.

Franklin & Marshall continues on the road Saturday, facing No. 3 Johns Hopkins at 4:00 p.m.