By Jensyn Hartzell
Sports Editor
On Wednesday, Feb. 2, the Washington College women’s basketball team went head-to-head with the Swarthmore College Garnets at the Penny J. Fall Gymnasium. This was a Centennial Conference match.
In the first quarter, the Shorewomen and the Garnets alternated leading the game within a few points of each other, but a layup by junior Joy Sanders put the Shorewomen ahead 13–12 entering the second quarter.
The Garnets went on a five-point run that pushed them ahead 22–19, but were stopped by a jumper from junior Andrea Prestianne, which was followed by a seven-point run by the Shorewomen to reclaim the lead.
The score was 32–28, Shorewomen, at the start of the third quarter.
After a three-point shot from senior Madeline Williams and a jumper from Sanders, the Shorewomen gained their largest lead of the game at 46–32. The Garnets responded with a seven-point run that diminished the Shorewomen’s lead to 46–39 with two minutes left until the fourth quarter.
The Shorewomen remained ahead in the final quarter at 52–40. The Garnets attempted a comeback, but shots from freshman Karry Kelliher, sophomore Serena Pluta, Williams, and Prestianne allowed the Shorewomen to finish on top.
The final score ended at 70–63, Shorewomen.
Pluta led the team in points, scoring 15 in addition to the six rebounds she earned. Williams, Prestianne, and Sanders also scored double-digits during the game.
The Shorewomen followed up their match against Swarthmore on Saturday, Feb. 5, taking on the in-Conference Dickinson College Red Devils at the Penny J. Fall Gymnasium.
This was also the Shorewomen’s Alumni Game, at which they celebrated former WC women’s basketball players with an alumni game and a ceremony. The alumni scrimmage involved several alumni playing a scrimmage against each other.
“It was so cool to come back and see the girls play, it was a blast,” former WC women’s basketball player Bridget McLaughlin ’20 said. “It was really nostalgic; they played a great game and I’m proud of them.”
During the first quarter against Dickinson, the Shorewomen scored the first four points, but the Red Devils responded with a 14-point run that gave them the lead, entering the second quarter at 19–14.
The Shorewomen continued to trail behind the Red Devils, but Kelliher started a 10–2 run with a layup which allowed them to take the lead for the remainder of the quarter.
The Red Devils gained the lead back at 35–34 in the third quarter, which was once again stolen by the Shorewomen after a trey from Prestianne and a layup from Williams. The Red Devils went on another run that left them winning 47–45 as the final quarter began.
The Shoremen fell behind the Red Devils for the rest of the game and were unable to catch up. The game ended at 63–52, Red Devils.
Sanders had the game-high of 15 points scored and eight rebounds. She was also nominated as the Goose Nation TV Player of the Game. Prestianne and Pluta also achieved double digits in points scored.
“We control our own destiny right now and we can still make some noise in the Conference playoffs this year, so I’m excited to keep it going and finish off the season strong,” senior Crystal Jones said.
The Shorewomen’s season record stands at 12-7 overall with 8-6 in the Conference. They will compete again on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Penny J. Fall Gymnasium against Franklin & Marshall College.