HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's basketball team (3-0, 1-0 CC) secured a victory in the Centennial Conference opener against BiCo neighbor Bryn Mawr (2-3, 0-1 CC) on Tuesday evening, prevailing by a 57-37 final score inside Gooding Arena.
The Fords showcased a balanced scoring effort, with senior guard Gia Flamini leading the squad with 12 points, while first-year guard Shae Mercer contributed 11 points off the bench. Junior Siena Emuobor narrowly missed a double-double, recording nine points and adding 11 rebounds in a well-rounded performance. Sophomore Abby Ryan also came close to a double-double, contributing nine points, eight rebounds, five steals, and a pair of blocks.
Both offenses struggled in the opening quarter, with the two teams managing just 12 points. The Fords took an early 6-0 lead before Michelle Jiang put the Owls on the scoreboard with a triple at 7:25 remaining in the quarter. Emuobor connected on a layup on the other end, and the two teams were then held scoreless until Jessica Smith made one of two free throws with just four seconds remaining in the first.
The second quarter opened with a quick 4-0 spurt for the visitors, as Hannah Binder finished a layup, and Kris Paisa connected from downtown, knotting the score at 8-8. Reigning Centennial Conference Player of the Week Ally Landau then made a three-pointer to restore the Haverford advantage at 11-8. A 5-0 stretch, highlighted by a Brianna Feifer layup, gave the Fords some breathing room but Bryn Mawr remained right in the contest. The visitors pulled back within one score after Smith finished a layup with 5:15 left in the first half. Paisa then connected from deep again, putting the Owls within three at halftime.
Despite the Owls keeping it close at the intermission, the Fords aimed to break the game open in the second half. Back-to-back layups from Flamini out of halftime helped set the tone for a 9-2 run, with Landau adding a pair from the line for a 10-point cushion midway through the third stanza. Hannah Mack connected on a three to put the Owls back within single digits, but Emuobor and Shae Mercer connected on key buckets in the waning moments of the period. Haverford headed into the final quarter up by 12 at 37-25.
Mercer opened the fourth with a three-pointer, and Feifer later connected from deep as the Fords suddenly took command, leading by 16 with 8:45 to go. Smith and Binder were determined to keep Bryn Mawr back within striking distance, but Haverford maximized its trips down the floor, getting to the free-throw line or making smart shot choices. Abby Ryan poured in a driving layup with just 3:51 to go, with the Fords up by 16 once again. Two late buckets from Flamini and another from Mercer helped seal the victory as the lead reached its apex of 22 with just under two minutes to play in regulation.
Smith had a game-best 15 points to pace the Owls Tuesday night. Haverford held a key 38-29 advantage in rebounding, while Bryn Mawr was hampered by a costly 23 turnovers, resulting in 15 Haverford steals.
The Fords now break for the Thanksgiving holiday and will return to action in the first Centennial Conference road contest of the season, scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, at Ursinus. The contest will begin at 6 p.m., with the men's game between the Fords and Bears to follow at 8 p.m. in Collegeville.