Signature Wins: The Haverford College women's basketball team recorded nine straight victories during a spirited stretch of the 2016-17 campaign. One of the most enthralling wins came at the start of the streak. Against Washington College (Dec. 10), the Fords outlasted the Shorewomen with a 53-52 victory that came down to the final buzzer. Sierra Berkel posted a double-double effort in the contest. When the Fords returned to action after the winter break, another dramatic finish was in the cards at Dickinson (Jan. 7), as Haverford took down the Red Devils on Dickinson's home court in an overtime thriller, handing Dickinson its first home loss of the season.
Another vital victory was a 59-57 win over Muhlenberg on February 7. The Fords came into Allentown deadlocked in first place with the Mules, and took over sole posession with a nearly wire-to-wire victory that set the tone for the Centennial playoff race. Macy Goldbach was key in the victory, pouring in 21 points. On Senior Day at Gooding '84 Arena, Haverford raced past McDaniel to officially clinch the top seed and hosting privileges in the Centennial Conference tournament. The Fords were paced by Goldbach, who tallied five three pointers (15 points overall) for the third straight contest, and Megan Furch, who posted her first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Season Notes: Haverford finished the season with its second-best win total in program history (19-7), second only to the Centennial Conference championship squad in 2014 ... Haverford hosted the Centennial Conference tournament for just the second time in program history ... Berkel was Haverford's first Centennial First-team selection since Jacquelyne Pizzuto (2014-15) and joins Pizzuto, Nina Voith and Claudette Pirwitz as the only Fords to garner selection to the first team ... Overall, Haverford made its sixth straight appearance in the Centennial Conference tournament under head coach Bobbi Morgan ... The Fords commited the ninth-fewest fouls in the nation (13.2 per game) ... Haverford allowed the ninth-fewest turnovers (13.5 per game, 350 total) ... The squad was one of the stingiest defenses in all of Division III holding opponents to just 49.7 points per game, the 10th best mark in the country ... Samantha Wetzel took over the Haverford career blocked shots lead at home against Bryn Mawr (Jan. 24) and extended her career total to 188.
Postseason Awards:
- All-Centennial Conference: Sierra Berkel (first team), Macy Goldbach (second team), Samantha Wetzel (honorable mention)
- Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Clio Bodie
- Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll: Sierra Berkel, Clio Bodie, Darby Festa, Macy Goldbach, Samantha Wetzel
- Ambler Scholar-Athlete: Clio Bodie
- Centennial Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year: Samantha Wetzel
- Centennial Conference Player of the Week: Sierra Berkel (1/16), Macy Goldbach (2/13)
Looking ahead: Haverford returns All-Centennial conference performers Sierra Berkel, Samantha Wetzel and Macy Goldbach as the Fords also return their entire starting five from the 2016-17 campaign. Key first-year reserves Maddie Gallic, Anna-Sophia Capizzi, Unique Tuberville and Megan Furch will also look for repeat performances of solid debuts on campus ... After taking the Centennial Conference's number one seed with one of the best seasons in program history, the squad is poised for a Centennial crown and an NCAA tournament run to cap standout careers from soon-to-be seniors Berkel and Wetzel.