HAVERFORD, Pa. – Senior Nina Voith became the program's all-time leading scorer as the Haverford College women's basketball team outlasted visiting Muhlenberg College, 49-44, in Centennial Conference action on Wednesday night at Gooding Arena.
The Fords (17-2, 11-2 CC) and the Mules (12-8, 9-5) combined for 167 points in their first meeting of the season in November but Wednesday night's matchup was all about defense and Haverford was ready for the challenge. Ranked 13th in scoring defense in Division III, and 15th in field-goal percentage defense, the Fords displayed their trademark defensive pressure throughout the game between two squads battling for a spot in this year's Centennial tournament.
Voith entered the contest needing three points to surpass the previous career-high mark of 1,291 set by Katie Crowley in 2006. The senior wasted no time as she went 2-for-2 from the floor in the opening four minutes of the game. Voith's three-pointer from the wing (pictured) at the 16:11 mark (video) moved her name to the top of the career-scoring list while giving her squad an 11-6 lead.
The Fords clamped down on the Muhlenberg offense from the opening tap as they limited the Mules to just three field goals on their first 15 attempts.
Elizabeth Lynch delivered Haverford's fourth three-pointer of the first half at 12:31 to push the Fords' cushion to double figures for the first time.
The Mules, riding a five-game winning streak, responded with the next six points to move within four at the eight-minute mark on a jumper by Leann Lanza but Haverford turned up the defensive pressure and held Muhlenberg to just four points over the remainder of first-half action.
Leading by 10 at the break (28-18), the Fords came out of the locker room looking to finish off their first sweep of the season series against the Mules in program history.
A layup from Voith pushed the Haverford advantage to a game-high 14 points with 10 minutes to go in the game before a late second-half rally by the visitors brought Muhlenberg within two at 46-44 with a minute on the clock.
Aiming to extend the game, the Mules put Jacquelyne Pizzuto on the free throw line with 16 seconds to go in the contest. Pizzuto drilled the first to give the Fords a three-point lead but her second attempt was just off the mark. Muhlenberg would not have a chance to come any closer however as senior Rachel Baskin pulled down her biggest rebound of the night.
Baskin's team-leading 10th rebound of the game resulted in two more chances from the line for Pizzuto and the junior point guard sealed the victory.
Lynch topped all scorers with 19 points including three three-pointers as Haverford finished 6-for-20 from behind the arc overall.
Voith also reached double figures on her record-breaking night as she tallied 10 points for her 17th double-digit scoring performance of the season. The Voith name now resides at the top of the Haverford scoring charts in both men's and women's basketball as Nina's father, Dick Voith '77, is the all-time leading scorer in Haverford men's history and the only player to break the 2,000 point plateau.
Baskin did not score a point in the contest but she was instrumental to the outcome as she registered four of the Fords' 12 steals to go along with her impressive effort on the boards.
Junior Leanna Tallamy, the reigning conference player of the week, paced the Mules with a 15-point, 15-rebound night but no other player reached double figures as the Haverford defense held Muhlenberg to over 20 points below its season average (65.2 points per game).
Currently sitting atop the Centennial standings, the Fords play the final of three consecutive home games on Saturday when they welcome McDaniel College (14-5, 9-4) to Gooding Arena. Haverford will recognize its four seniors -- Voith, Baskin, Hope Rainey and Cara Wyant -- prior to the contest beginning at 1 p.m.