CARLISLE, Pa. – Hitting the hardwood for the first time in 2017, the Haverford College women's basketball team was immediately tested by the early Centennial Conference leader Dickinson on Saturday afternoon. After a 28 day layoff from competition, another close conference road game was on the docket but Haverford prevailed, 56-55, in overtime, to hand Dickinson its first conference loss and first home loss of the 2016-17 campaign.
In a game that was close throughout, Haverford persevered thanks in part to a balanced effort from Sierra Berkel and Samantha Wetzel on the posts. The pair each recorded 12 points as Wetzel recorded her ninth career double-double with 10 rebounds while Berkel narrowly missed the milestone with nine rebounds. Haverford improves to 6-4 overall (4-2 Centennial) while Dickinson now sits at 8-3 (5-1 Centennial) on the season.
The Fords and Red Devils traded buckets in the first quarter, with no team taking a lead of more than a possession. Anna-Sophia Capizzi hit a three-pointer with 4:42 left in the period to give Haverford a 10-8 lead before Mary Martin and Mairead Donahue converted for Dickinson to hand the hosts the early 14-12 lead at the end of the first period.
A three-pointer from Jonica Brown pushed the Dickinson lead to 17-12, but Haverford used a jumper from Wetzel and back-to-back layups from Berkel to cut the lead to 19-18 in the early part of the second period. Wetzel drained a jumper to give Haverford a 20-19 lead before Berkel and Maddie Gallic combined to give Haverford a 26-23 lead with 4:52 left in the first half.
Helen Roberts made a three to tie the score and Martin briefly gave Dickinson the advantage back at 28-26, but Megan Furch converted to tie it at 28-28 and made a layup on the final Haverford possession of the half to send the Fords into the locker room up 30-28.
The third quarter would prove to be similar to the opening frame as neither squad went ahead by more than two points. Lauren McBride beat the buzzer for the hosts to give Dickinson the 40-39 advantage going into the final period of play.
The Fords came out firing in the fourth with Wetzel and Gallic hitting back-to-back shots to give Haverford a 44-40 lead before Roberts cut the advantage to just one with a three-pointer of her own. Mary Martin hit a jumper ahead of a Jennifer Smith field goal to give Dickinson at 47-45 lead with two minutes remaining.
With under a minute left in regulation, Macy Goldbach glided down the court and hit a layup to tie the score at 47-47. After a miss by Dickinson on the other end, Haverford grabbed possession and called for a timeout with 34 seconds left. At the restart, swarming defense by the Red Devils forced Haverford into another timeout with 20 seconds remaining and just 12 seconds left on the shot clock. The Fords were able to get separation but Goldbach missed a jumper from the corner and the rebound went to the Red Devils, who called for a stoppage with 3.8 seconds left on the game clock and the shot clock turned off. Dickinson's desperation heave at the buzzer was off target, and the teams headed for overtime locked at 47 all.
Roberts drained a three to start the bonus period, but Goldbach responded with a jumper. The two again traded buckets as Roberts poured in a pair from the paint and Goldbach hit a trey to equalize the score at 52-52. Berkel hit a layup to put Haverford ahead and Wetzel delivered a punctuation mark with 1:36 remaining to put Haverford up 56-52.
The Red Devils reached for a timeout to regroup and Roberts again remained hot with a three-point attempt to pull within one at 56-55 with just 1:16 left.
Goldbach missed a layup and Roberts grabbed the rebound with: 30 seconds left, and Dickinson called for stoppage with 22 seconds on the clock. Roberts committed a turnover, giving Haverford the ball back with six ticks left. Maddie Gallic lost possession, giving Roberts the steal and possession with under five seconds left. As was the case all day, Roberts was able to hit rim with a three-point attempt from long range, but the try rattled out, allowing the Fords to come away with a momentous conference win on the road.
Haverford had the hotter shooting hand all day, shooting 43.6 percent to 33.5 percent for the hosts. Dickinson excelled from beyond the arc with a 45 percent outing. Roberts proved to be a force for the Red Devils all afternoon, finishing with 28 points and six rebounds. Roberts was the only Red Devil in double figures as Kassidy Lesher narrowly missed a double-double with 10 rebounds and seven points.
Haverford will next be in action at home against Gettysburg College on Tuesday, January 10. The 6 p.m. contest is the opener of a doubleheader that will also feature the Haverford and Gettysburg men in action at 8 p.m.
Tuesday will also be Hoops 'N' Hoogie Night in the GIAC. Free hoagies and beverages will be available as long as supplies last for all family members of Haverford College employees and alumni. Back by popular demand, Magic by Poly will also be performing during halftime of the women's game and in between the men's and women's games.