By Gabrielle Devaud
Elm Staff Writer
Junior Meghan Tait finished one assist shy of a triple double as the Shorewomen saw all five starters score in double figures during a 75-61 Centennial Conference women’s basketball victory over visiting Haverford last Thursday night.
Haverford came into the contest allowing just 47.8 points per game. Washington College (3-3, 1-1 Centennial) led by as many as 10 points in the first half and held a 33-24 advantage at halftime. The Fords (3-3, 1-2) cut the lead to seven with 16:28 left in the second half, but the Shorewomen scored the next nine points, capped off by a put-back by junior Sally O’Donnell to stretch the lead to 46-30 with 14:27 remaining in the game. WC led by double figures the rest of the way.
Tait scored 14 points and brought down 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive end, to add to her career high-tying nine assists. O’Donnell scored a team-high 17 points to add to her seven rebounds and five blocked shots. Sophomore Erin Kile added 16 points, converting all but two of her nine field-goal attempts, and brought down a team-best 12 rebounds. Freshman Kelly Mitchell added 14 points, while freshman Latisha Pledger tallied 10 on five-for-six shooting.
WC held a 43-33 advantage on the boards and out-rebounded their opponents for the fifth time in six games this season. The Shorewomen shot 14-of-19 from the field and 13-of-16 from the free throw line in the second half. They finished at 50 percent from the field and 78 percent from the line in the game.
The Shorewomen returned to action last Saturday with a home game against 18th-ranked Muhlenberg. The Mules scored a 68-47 victory over the women’s basketball team. WC led 29-27 entering the second half before Muhlenberg took the lead for the remainder of the game.
In the first half, a pair of free throws by freshman Claire Mattox gave the Shorewomen a 16-12 lead with 9:28 left. WC countered with an 11-3 run to lead 27-22 with 4:16 left in the half on a free throw by Tait. Freshman Liz Warkala scored the last hoop of the half on a layup to put WC up 29-27.
Tait had 12 points to lead WC and also grabbed eight rebounds. Pledger grabbed a game-best 13 rebounds, tying her career best. Mitchell had a team-best and career-high three steals. WC shot just 23 percent from the floor and 68 percent from the foul line.
The Shorewomen played on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. versus Swarthmore. They return to action on Saturday with a 2 p.m. home game against Catholic University.