CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Haverford College women's basketball team outlasted William Paterson, 55-52, in overtime, to claim the consolation game of the DeSales Morgan Stanley/Easton Tip-Off tournament. Haverford trailed for most of the contest, but kept the score within striking distance and prevailed in the extra period. Haverford improves to 1-2 on the season with the Sunday matinee win, while William Paterson falls to the same mark in defeat.
Junior co-captain Samantha Wetzel had another stellar performance, posting her seventh career double-double with a career-best 23 rebounds and 14 points to go with three blocks. Wetzel's 23 rebound performance also represented the most boards in a single contest for Haverford since Koren Miller '95 went for 23 against Albright in 1994.
Wetzel was just two rebounds short of Haverford's single-game record, which is held by Amy Taylor '92, who accomplished the feat against Bryn Mawr in 1989.
Sierra Berkel was the only other scorer in double figures for Haverford, as she added nine rebounds to an 11 point outing. Tori Hopkins tied a career-best with six assists for the second straight day.
The Fords fell into an early 13-5 hole with 2:12 left in the first quarter after a jumper from Alliera McCoy gave the Pioneers an eight-point advantage. Haverford used a bucket from Anna-Sophia Capizzi to cut the lead to three at the end of the first period. The second period was a back-and-forth affair with Haverford taking a 19-17 lead on a Berkel free throw before a 6-0 Pioneers run made the score 23-19 in favor of William Paterson after a Gabby Harris layup.
Capizzi cut the lead to one, drilling a three-pointer with 3:35 left in the half, but Jackie Rodriguez answered on the other half of the floor to restore a four point advantage to the Pioneers. Maddie Gallic sank one of her two free throws to cut the William Paterson lead to three at 26-23 going into the intermission.
The teams were evenly matched at the intermission, with William Paterson shooting 30% to 29% for the Fords. Wetzel led the Fords with six at the break. As the second half began, Gallic wasted no time tying the contest with a threoe off an assist from Katie Cook before a 6-0 run from the Pioneers was punctuated with a Julie Rovito layup. Berkel hit a pair of free throws to cut the advantage to just two, but the Pioneers took a six point lead into the fourth quarter.
Haverford's impressive fourth quarter play early this season would be tested early as an Ashlyn Castillo layup put William Paterson up 46-36 with 9:05 left.
In a game defined in the first three quarters by the two squads trading baskets, Haverford broke the trend, responding with a 11-0 run to take a 47-46 lead as Macy Goldbach drilled a three-pointer for the one-point advantage. Goldbach, who started the game cold from the field, was a major part of the run, pouring in all seven of her points on the day during the stretch. Berkel hit a jumper to give the Fords a three-point lead with 2:31 left, as the tide seemed to be turning in Haverford's favor late for the third straight contest.
After some stout defense kept the Pioneers off the scoreboard, Jackie Rodriguez hit a three with 35 seconds left in regulation to tie the score. Berkel had a jumper attempt blocked in the final seconds, and the teams headed for OT.
Harris delivered the opening salvo in the overtime session, but Wetzel responded with a jumper off an assist from Tori Hopkins. After Harris committed a foul on Hopkins, the Fords were able to tie pull ahead at the charity stripe. Rovito missed one of her two free throws with 58 seconds remaining, allowing Haverford to take possession up 53-52. After a timeout, Wetzel again went to work, hitting a jumper in the paint to restore a three-point lead at 55-52.
Harris missed a layup and Haverford called timeout after the ball went out of bounds. Goldbach committed a turnover, but Rovito missed a shot with five seconds left. With just two seconds remaining, Hopkins turned the ball over and the Pioneers called for timeout, looking to tie. Goldbach stole the ball from Rovito, sealing the win for the Fords.
Harris led the Pioneers with 12 points, while Janea Clark added nine rebounds. Sunday was the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Haverford will next host the home and conference opener against Ursinus on Tuesday, November 22. The game is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be followed by the men's home opener against the Bears at approximately 8:00 p.m.