HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's basketball team welcomed Franklin & Marshall College to Gooding Arena on Saturday afternoon and gave the visitors all they could handle in Centennial Conference play before falling 65-59.

Haverford (6-3, 3-3 CC) was once again led by junior forward Dominique Meeks who made her presence known in the paint with 16 points and eight rebounds. Alexa Barbush paced F&M (5-2, 5-0) and took game-high honors with 21 points.

A back and forth second half saw the lead change nine times in the first 12 minutes. Barbush's jumper with 8:05 on the clock gave the Diplomats a 47-46 lead that proved to be the final lead change of the afternoon. The visitors pushed the lead to nine with just over four minutes on the clock but the Fords did not go quietly. Calla Miller's layup with 50 ticks left on the clock cut the F&M lead to six but the Dips sank four free throws from there to hold on for the victory.

A defensive struggle ensued from the opening tip as Haverford kept F&M's high-powered offense in check limiting the Diplomats to 31 percent from the field. F&M opened up a five point lead with just over two minutes remaining yet Haverford battled back.  Elizabeth Lynch nailed a three pointer with just under a minute remaining to forge a 26-26 tie and Rachel Baskin's layup with four seconds left gave the Fords a two point lead at the intermission.

Calla Miller tallied 13 points and seven rebounds and Lynch provided 12 points off the bench to join Meeks in double figures.  

Haverford takes the rest of the month off and returns to action on the road at Gettysburg in Centennial Conference action on Jan.5.