HAVERFORD, Pa. – Freshman Sierra Berkel set a career high with 16 points as the Haverford College women's basketball team defeated the Washington College Shorewomen 62-45 at the Gooding '84 Arena on Wednesday evening.
The Shorewomen started the game strong offensively, making four of their first six shots from the floor to jump in front 13-8 at the 13:26 mark of the first half. Haverford tallied seven of the next nine points to tie the game at 15 with 9:46 to go.
A three-pointer by Washington's Ali Grundy would interrupt a six point outburst for Haverford, but the home team rallied off six more to take a 27-18 advantage with 2:36 remaining the first half. The Fords headed into the locker room with a 32-22 lead after ending the final 13 minutes on a 24-9 run.
Berkel paced the Fords with 13 points in the first 20 minutes of game action. Senior Jacquelyne Pizzuto registered eight points while senior Shannon Smith added a team-best four rebounds in the half.
In the second half, the Shorewomen got within nine after another three-pointer from Grundy made the score 34-25 with 16:51 left, but that's as close as they would get. A few possessions later, two free throws by Smith and a basket by freshman Samantha Wetzel pushed the Fords' lead back to 13 at the 11:19 mark. Haverford would stretch its lead to as high as 22 after that spurt and Washington College wouldn't get any closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
It was a group effort for the Fords as the team featured 27 bench points, highlighted by Berkel's career high in points. The freshman did not miss a shot attempt and recorded seven rebounds. Berkel is shooting a stellar 57.7 percent this season which leads the conference. Smith fell one rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds. Haverford missed just one free throw in game, making 13 total. Head coach Bobbi Morgan's squad hit seven three-pointers, dished out 17 assists on 21 made baskets and outrebounded Washington 42-33. Ten Fords grabbed a rebound in the game.
Carley Kendall had a game-high 17 points for Washington in the loss.
The Fords improved to 13-9 on the season and 11-4 in the Centennial Conference while the Shorewomen dropped to 8-14 and 4-11 in conference play. Haverford will welcome the Gettysburg College Bullets to the Gooding '84 Arena on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.