ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Haverford College women's basketball team (3-4, 1-3 CC) fell short in a road showdown at Memorial Hall on the campus of Muhlenberg, as the host Mules (7-3, 2-3 CC) fended off a second-half surge from the Fords to secure a 54-44 victory in the Centennial Conference matchup.
First-year player Shae Mercer was heavily involved in the offensive rhythm of the contest, contributing 15 points and four rebounds. Sophomore Brianna Feifer had a breakout performance with 10 points, seven of which came in the final quarter. Rachel Saxton and Ava Connolly each scored 16 points to lead the hosts, with Jenna Stockfeder adding a game-best 13 rebounds to her ledger.
The first quarter began with Muhlenberg on a quick 6-2 run, taking a 10-6 lead as Mia Fitzgerald connected from deep with under five minutes to play in the stanza. Connolly added a layup, extending the lead to six at 12-6.
Audrey Jakway then scored five quick points, including a triple that narrowed Muhlenberg's lead to just one, preceding a three-pointer from Feifer that gave Haverford its first lead of the contest.
Muhlenberg regained the lead with a 5-0 spurt to open the second period, but a bucket from Abby Ryan tied the score at 17-17 with 7:15 remaining. Muhlenberg then went on a 9-0 run of its own, opening up a 26-17 lead with contributions from Megan Winters and successful trips to the free-throw line from Emily Unger and Connolly.
Erin Albright's jumper ended the Mules' run, but Muhlenberg outpaced Haverford 12-2 over the last 7:15 of the half, taking its largest lead of the contest into halftime.
Despite facing a 17-5 deficit in the second frame, Haverford climbed right back into the game, turning the tide with a 13-7 advantage in the third quarter. Muhlenberg struggled from the field in the second half, allowing the Fords to trim the lead to just six with 6:05 to play with a consistent tempo.
Gia Flamini later added a second-chance three off an offensive rebound from Abby Ryan, bringing the Fords within a single possession midway through the stanza. Mercer made a wide-open jumper with 2:48 to go, bringing the Fords back within just four entering the final quarter.
Feifer's runner opened the fourth-quarter scoring, putting the Fords back within two. Connolly connected from distance for the Mules, but Feifer grabbed a quick layup, bringing the Fords within three with 6:25 to go. Feifer continued to shine, pouring in a shot from long distance with 5:51 to play, putting Haverford within just two.
Saxton and Mercer traded layups, but Saxton gave her side some separation down the stretch with a triple, stretching the lead to 46-41 with four minutes to go. An 8-0 run for Muhlenberg was halted by a Mercer three-pointer with 1:07 to play, but at that point, the Fords were up against the clock as Muhlenberg notched three of its four free throws in the final minute to secure the win.
Muhlenberg held a 46-38 advantage on the glass, while Haverford outshot the Mules 34.7 percent to 26.7 percent. Each team hit five three-pointers, with the Fords doing so on 16 attempts and the Mules on 24.
The Fords will play one final conference game before breaking for finals and the winter holidays. Haverford will host Washington College at Gooding Arena on Saturday (2 p.m), with that contest serving as a prelude to late December's Puerto Rico Clasico. The Fords will join many Division III teams as they descend on Guaynabo, P.R., for enticing non-conference matchups with Carroll (Wis.) (Dec. 29) and No. 22 Mary Washington (Dec. 30) to wrap up 2023.