HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's basketball team (8-6, 2-2 CC) defeated BiCo rival Bryn Mawr (7-7, 0-4 CC) in Centennial Conference action at Gooding Arena on Saturday afternoon, prevailing by a final score of 64-42 in the matinee matchup.
Haverford jumped out to a narrow 14-12 lead in the first quarter, with Audrey Jakway setting the tone early. Shae Mercer pushed the Fords ahead by seven with a layup off a turnover from the Owls, making it 12-5, but a 7-2 run from Bryn Mawr in the closing moments of the frame tightened the margin heading into the seocnd frame.
The second quarter proved decisive as Haverford surged ahead with a 21-point effort, building a 35-25 halftime lead. Mercer was instrumental, contributing on both ends of the court with transition baskets and assists. She hit a pair of free throws with 1:10 left in the first half to put the Fords up by 10 entering the intermission.
The Fords' defense dominated the third quarter, holding the Owls to just five points. Brianna Feifer and Siena Emuobor anchored the defensive effort, forcing contested shots and limiting second-chance opportunities. On offense, Haverford maintained a balanced attack, with Mercer and Jakway leading the charge. A 9-0 run to end the frame extended the lead to 19, highlighted by Mercer's fast-break layup in the final seconds of the third.
In the final period, Haverford closed out the game with a composed performance. The lead stretched to 18 following Feifer's driving layup with 9:02 remaining, and Grace Leverton extended it to 20 with her jumper at the 3:01 mark. Jakway capped the scoring with a three-pointer, putting the Fords up by 23 with 1:34 left to play.
Jakway led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-19 shooting, adding eight rebounds and three assists. Mercer turned in another well-rounded performance with 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Feifer chipped in six points and five rebounds, while Emuobor contributed seven rebounds and two assists.
For Bryn Mawr, Hannah Mack provided a spark with 13 points, including a pair of three-pointers, and three steals, while Hannah Binder added 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Haverford shot 45.6 percent from the field and capitalized on Bryn Mawr's 21 turnovers, turning those into 25 points. The Fords' defensive intensity was evident throughout, as they recorded 14 steals and held Bryn Mawr to 31.4 percent shooting from the field.
Next up, Women's Basketball hosts Ursinus on Wednesday, January 15, inside Gooding Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m., kicking off a doubleheader with the men's squad taking on the Bears at 6 p.m.