CHESTERTOWN, Md. - The Haverford College women's basketball team (8-9, 2-5 CC) was edged by Washington College (11-6, 4-3 CC) 65-61 in a Centennial Conference clash inside the Penny Fall Gymnasium in Chestertown.
Haverford had five scorers in double figures, with Audrey Jakway finishing with 13. Abby Ryan was a major factor off the bench with 12 points and six rebounds and Brianna Feifer recorded a double-double in her home state with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Kaitlyn Boggs (16 points, six rebounds) and Emma Robinson (10 points, 13 rebounds) were crucial for the hosts.
Haverford looked strong early, with Audrey Jakway connecting from three-point range to put the Fords up 6-4 in the opening moments. A scrappy first few minutes saw each team taking several chances from the perimeter, before Abby Meredith drove the lane to tie the score at 6-6.
The teams were knotted at 8-8 before a strong 7-0 Washington College run gave the hosts some separation in the waning minutes of the frame. Abby Ryan connected to trim the lead back to five ahead of Peyton Berger giving the Shorewomen an eight-point cushion at 18-10 at the end of one.
The second quarter saw the Shorewomen continue to keep their advantage hovering around 10 points, with Jakway connecting from three to put the Fords within 10 at 27-17 with 5:36 remaining in the half. A 6-3 Shorewomen spurt from that point put Washington College up 33-20 entering the intermission.
Jakway had 10 of Haverford's 20 points at the break, while Meredith had seven for the Shorewomen, who shot 50 percent (15-of-30) from the field over the opening 20 minutes of action.
Shae Mercer began the third quarter with a three-pointer, and Caroline Orza connected from downtown to trim the lead to single digits with 7:54 to go in the third. A 4-0 WAC run followed, but a 6-0 Haverford run was punctuated by back-to-back buckets from Abby Ryan, putting the Fords within seven at 39-32 at the 3:59 mark.
Brianna Feifer then connected from deep and Grace Leverton knocked down four free-throws in the closing moments of the frame, as suddenly the Washington lead was just two with eight seconds remaining in the period.
A layup from Jakway and a three-pointer from Mercer put the Fords within striking distance midway through the final frame. Feifer put Haverford within three with her triple that came at 3:54 remaining, and Orza was clutch at the free-throw line to put the Fords within a single point at 55-54 with three minutes and change to go.
Unfortunately for the visitors, a 9-2 Washington run helped put things away. Mercer converted from three at the buzzer, but it was a bit too late as the Shorewomen were able to prevail at home.
The Fords will next be in action on Thursday, January 30 as Women's Basketball hosts Muhlenberg inside Gooding '84 Arena in a Centennial Conference contest rescheduled from last Wednesday. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.