HAVERFORD, Pa. – Opening both its home slate and Centennial Conference action, the Haverford College women's basketball team was downed by No. 21 Muhlenberg, 76-51, in a meeting of the last two Centennial Conference Championship teams on Tuesday evening.
The Fords (3-2, 0-1 CC) were led offensively by a pair of double figure scoring outings from Macy Goldbach (12 points) and Samantha Wetzel (11 points). Freshmen Katie Cook and Tori Hopkins each had nine points on a trio of treys during their debuts inside Gooding Arena. Sierra Berkel led all players with a game-high 10 rebounds.
The visiting Mules (5-0, 2-0 CC) used a 47 percent shooting mark from the field, while stifling Haverford to just under 30 percent from the field. Four starters from the Mules reached double figures in the scoring column. The visitors were led by 19 points from Rachel Plotke. Despite the defensive pressure from Muhlenberg, the Fords poured in 30 points from beyond the arc.
Haverford kept pace with Muhlenberg on the strength of three-point shooting in the opening half. Muhlenberg jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead in the opening quarter before back-to-back three pointers from Cook and Hopkins drew the Fords even with just under four to play in the quarter. The Mules went on a quick 5-0 spurt, but five points from Wetzel – including a three-pointer with the clock winding down on the first quarter - tied the game at 15 after the first 10 minutes.
Muhlenberg responded to the tie score by winning each of the final three quarters. A 6-0 run from the Mules put them up 28-20 with 3:56 to play in the second quarter. The teams traded a pair of baskets as Muhlenberg kept that edge with a 32-24 advantage as the teams headed to the locker room.
Midway through the third quarter, the Mules defense helped fuel a 9-0 run that pushed its lead up to 18 points, 47-29, with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter. The visitor's 76-51 lead at the final buzzer matched the team's largest lead of the night.
Women's basketball will continue conference play this weekend when the team treks to Dickinson for a 2 p.m. tip. That game will be followed by the men's game against the Red Devils at 4 p.m.