CARLISLE, Pa. – The Haverford College women's basketball team pulled to a 61-56 victory over Dickinson on Saturday afternoon, withstanding a third quarter spurt by the Red Devils to take a sixth straight victory. Haverford runs its record to 16-3 (12-2 CC) with the season sweep while Dickinson falls to 6-13 (6-8 CC). Senior co-captain Samantha Wetzel had 18 points, including a career-best six points from the free throw line to lead all scorers. Senior co-captain Sierra Berkel had 10 points, tallying a double-digit scoring output for the 11th straight contest.
Dickinson outshot the Fords 47.1 percent to 35.7 percent, but Haverford was able to take advantage of Red Devil mistakes, netting 25 points off turnovers.
Haverford and the Red Devils were locked in a close battle early; with the Fords taking a 15-11 lead with 1:48 left in the first quarter on a Katie Cook three-pointer. Lizzie Becker answered immediately on the other end, but Wetzel hit her first two free throws of the afternoon for a 17-13 lead after the first stanza.
Dickinson briefly took the lead on a Hannah Heiring three-pointer with 8:56 remaining in the second, but a quick 8-0 Haverford run made the advantage 26-18 with 7:01 left in the half. Kassidy Lesher poured in a jumper to cut the lead to 28-24 with 5:21 remaining before layups from Wetzel and Cook on back-to-back possessions restored a 10 point lead for the visitors.
Berkel knocked down a pair from the charity stripe as Haverford took an 11 point lead into the intermission. Berkel and Wetzel again led the charge in the early goings of the third quarter, with the lead at 11 and 8:02 to play following a Wetzel layup. The rest of the quarter belonged to Dickinson, however, as the hosts took the lead into the final quarter with a 12-0 run. Heiring keyed the run with a three-pointer and a jumper that helped close the gap.
Cook opened the fourth quarter scoring with a crucial jumper, ending the run and restoring the lead for the Fords. Berkel was fouled and made two from the line as Haverford extended its advantage to 50-47. As was the case for most of the second half, Dickinson had an immediate answer. Halle Maeda quickly erased the lead with a trey and Herring gave the Red Devils the lead back at 52-50 with 7:13 to play.
Haverford and Dickinson traded buckets, with Dickinson seemingly in a good position to steal an upset win up 56-54 with 4:01 to play. First year Julianna Clark made her presence felt with a pivotal three-pointer, inching the Fords ahead at 57-56. Following a Dickinson turnover, Clark sank a layup for a three point advantage at 59-56 with 2:40 to play.
Dickinson was unsuccessful in its final possessions, turning the ball over before Heiring missed one from beyond the arc. Forced to foul with the shot clock turned off, Dickinson put the ball in the hands of Cook who successfully converted a pair for a 61-56 advantage that would hold as the final score.
Macy Goldbach and Cook each finished with nine points while Maddie Gallic had seven. Clark had eight points to lead all reserves. Haverford held its opponent to under 60 points for the 22nd straight contest. The Fords have now won their last four contests against Dickinson.
The Fords will next hit the road again for a Wednesday night contest at Washington College on January 31. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. in Chestertown, Md.