Centennial Conference Championship Information
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's basketball team is preparing to host the Centennial Conference tournament for the second time in program history this weekend, with games slated for Friday evening and Saturday afternoon at Gooding '84 Arena.
Haverford last hosted the event during the 2013-14 season, capturing the conference title on its home court en-route to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Overall, Haverford is making its sixth straight appearance in the Centennial Conference tournament under head coach Bobbi Morgan.
The name of the game for Haverford this season has been a stifling defense that is amongst the best in the nation. The Fords are holding opponents to just 49.4 points per game, a mark that is good for the 11th stingiest in all of Division III. Haverford is also holding opponents to just 32.3 percent from the field, a mark that is 17th in Division III. Individually, Samantha Wetzel is amongst the best shot-blockers in the nation as she has posted an average of 3.08 per game, good for 13th in the country.
With a disciplined all-around approach to each contest, the Fords also allow the seventh fewest fouls in the nation at just 12.9 committed per contest and the 11th fewest turnovers with just 13.5 per game. The play of standout junior forwards Sierra Berkel (12.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and Samantha Wetzel (10 ppg, 8.2 rpg) have also opened up the floor for sharp-shooting guards Macy Goldbach (10.0 ppg, .364 three-point percentage), Katie Cook (5.6 ppg) and Maddie Gallic (5.4 ppg) to find stronger open looks and drill shots from beyond the arc.
In reserve action, freshmen Anna-Sophia Capizzi (17.8 mpg) and Megan Furch (18.9 mpg) have made an immediate impact as part of the rotation, with Capizzi posting double-digit scoring totals on four occasions and Furch exploding for a double-double in the Fords penultimate contest with McDaniel a fortnight ago.
The action for Haverford gets underway with semifinal games on Friday. The Fords will tip off in the first semifinal against Gettysburg (19-7, 14-6 CC) at 6:00 p.m. The Bullets are making their 14th tournament appearance and captured the conference crown in 2013. Emily Gibbons (19 ppg, 13.8 ppg) and Emma Dorshimer (17.2 ppg) are the major scoring threats for Gettysburg and containing the pair will likely be the defensive focus for Haverford. Kendra Meredith (8.9 ppg) and Kiera Cesareo (5.4 ppg) are other go-to options for head coach Nate Davis' squad, who dispatched Johns Hopkins in the first-round game on Wednesday to reach the semifinal round.
Haverford split with Gettysburg this season, with each team taking a win on its home court. On January 10, the Fords turned a 27-20 halftime deficit into a 60-55 victory over the visiting Bullets as Sierra Berkel posted 15 points and Samantha Wetzel added a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds in the triumph. On February 4, Haverford shot just 25 percent in a sluggish start from the field and fell to the Bullets inside Bream Gym as Emily Gibbons, Kendra Meredith and Emma Hanner each had big days for the hosts. Berkel tallied a 14 point, 11 rebound night in a losing effort.
The second semifinal will feature second-seeded Muhlenberg College and third-seeded Dickinson College at 8:00 p.m. on Friday night. The championship game will be Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The winner of the championship game will gain the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Fords swept Dickinson this season and split with Muhlenberg, prevailing in Allentown while falling at home on the Haverford campus.
Admission for each session is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Children 12 and under as well as students from participating institutions, who present their ID, will be admitted free of charge. All Haverford College staff and faculty will also receive free admission with a valid Haverford College ID.
Live video and stats will be available for each of the three games on the weekend. Fans are encouraged to check HaverfordAthletics.com for the latest updates.