HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's basketball team (7-6, 1-2 CC) secured a thrilling 74-71 overtime victory against Franklin & Marshall (10-4, 1-2 CC) in Centennial Conference action on Wednesday afternoon at Gooding Arena. The win marked the Fords' first conference triumph of the season.
Trailing 69-68 in the overtime period, first-year Grace Leverton drained a pivotal three-pointer to give Haverford a lead they would not relinquish. Leverton later iced the game at the free-throw line, sinking two clutch foul shots with 22 seconds remaining to help seal the win. She finished with 16 points, including a flawless 6-for-6 from the stripe.
The Fords started strong in the first quarter, outscoring the Diplomats 23-14. Early contributions from Caroline Orza and Audrey Jakway set the tone, with Orza knocking down a pair of three-pointers and Jakway converting a layup off an assist from Siena Emuobor. A layup by Brianna Feifer extended the lead to 21-9, showcasing the Fords' offensive momentum in the early goings.
Franklin & Marshall rallied in the second quarter, led by Lizzie Neville, who nailed a three-pointer to cut Haverford's lead to 27-20. The Diplomats continued their run after a Jakway layup, with Neville contributing six points in the frame.
Haverford regained control in the third quarter with key buckets from Shae Mercer and Emuobor. Orza put some separation between the two sides as Haverford went up five following her triple with 3:27 left in the frame. Leverton lsyrt connected to cap off a 5-0 spurt, as the Fords were up 50-45 entering the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Jakway hit a three-pointer with 5:18 left, followed by a layup at the 4:47 mark, extending the Fords' lead to eight points. However, the Diplomats mounted a late comeback. Quinn Galligan's three-pointer and a layup by Wilburn brought Franklin & Marshall within striking distance. Galligan's jumper with five seconds remaining capped a 7-0 run, sending the game into overtime.
The extra period saw Orza drain a three-pointer for a 68-64 lead, but Franklin & Marshall responded to take the lead with a 5-0 spurt fueled by two layups from Wilburn and a free throw by Ward. This set the stage for Leverton's heroics on the other end, as her decisive three-pointer put Haverford up for good at 71-69.
Orza matched Leverton's scoring output with 16 points, adding eight rebounds and three assists. Mercer and Jakway also made significant contributions, scoring 15 and 12 points, respectively. Jakway recorded a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds. Emuobor added 11 points and five rebounds in a strong and well-rounded effort off the bench. Haverford's defense played a key role, forcing 10 turnovers and holding the Diplomats to 38.6% shooting from the field.
Franklin & Marshall was led by Wilburn's 18 points and 10 rebounds, earning her a double-double. Ally Trebelev (14 points), Neville (13 points), and Galligan (10 points) also reached double figures for the Diplomats.
The Fords will look to even their conference record at 2-2 when they host Bryn Mawr at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, inside Gooding Arena.