LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (14-11, 7-7 CC) earned a massive 61-45 victory over Dickinson (14-10, 8-5 CC) in Wednesday evening's Centennial Conference (CC) matchup inside the Mayser Center. F&M used a big first half to secure a crucial win in the Diplomats' final game of the 2025-26 regular season.

Dickinson got the scoring started with two scores inside the arc, but F&M responded in a big way by scoring 13-straight points across the next six minutes of the contest. The run started with jumpers on back-to back possessions from Gia Sioutis to tie the game at 4-4. Lizzie Neville connected from mid-range followed by a three-pointer from Sioutis to give the Diplomats a five-point advantage with 5:55 on the clock. After Mackenzie Ward made a jumper, Fiona Reckner converted a three-point play to extend the F&M lead to 14-4 with two minutes remaining in the frame. Dickinson finally broke their scoring drought with a five-point swing at the start of the closing minute. However, Lauren Rusas beat the buzzer on a three-pointer to give the home team a 17-9 cushion through 10 minutes of play.

Franklin & Marshall held a 22-12 lead at the 7:42 mark of the second quarter when Neville and Ward made jumpers on consecutive possessions to push the lead to 14. After the Red Devils made a jumper, F&M began a 12-2 run to grow the lead to 38-16 with 1:57 remaining in the half. Dickinson responded with an and-one chance, but the Diplomats scored the final four points of the quarter to take a 42-19 advantage into the halftime intermission.

F&M shot an impressive 47.2 percent (17-of-36) from the field as a team in the first half, while outrebounding the Red Devils, 21-13.

The Red Devils started the second half on a 9-2 run to reduce the gap to 16 with 5:12 remaining in the quarter. Kayla McCrea made a jumper, followed by Sioutis connecting for two to extend the Diplomats' lead to 20. Ward poured in a three at the buzzer to push the F&M advantage to 51-28 entering the final quarter. Ward later continued the Diplomats' offensive success by making a jumper at the start of the fourth quarter, giving F&M its largest lead of the night at 25.

Franklin & Marshall as a team shot 37.5 percent (24-of-64) from the field, while also outrebounding the Red Devils, 43-29, in the contest.

Sioutis led the Diplomats with 18 points, while shooting 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the field. Sioutis also recorded eight rebounds and three steals in the win. Ward followed with 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the game. Neville ended her night with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Franklin & Marshall now awaits the outcome of Saturday's game between Washington College at Ursinus. With an Ursinus win, the Diplomats will clinch a spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Tip-off between the Bears and Shorewomen is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.