SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Haverford College women's basketball team closed out its regular season on a high note, defeating Swarthmore 53-45 in a hard-fought Centennial Conference matchup at Tarble Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. The Fords (11-14, 5-10 CC) used a dominant third quarter to pull ahead, securing their second win over the Garnet (8-16, 3-11 CC) this season, sweeping the season series and earning a vital Hood Trophy point.
Audrey Jakway led the charge with 16 points and 10 rebounds, recording her seventh double-double of the season. Siena Emuobor was a force on the glass, grabbing nine rebounds while adding six points and two steals in her senior season finale. Brianna Feifer contributed 12 points and three rebounds.
The teams traded baskets early, ending the first quarter tied at 16-16. The Fords' offense cooled in the second period, managing just nine points, but their defensive intensity limited Swarthmore to eight, preserving a low-scoring battle. Haverford's defense did enough to give the Fords a slim 25-24 lead at halftime.
Coming out of the break, Haverford turned up the pressure, outscoring Swarthmore 20-14 in a pivotal third quarter. Shae Mercer opened the half with a jumper, sparking a 7-0 run capped by Abby Ryan's three-point play, which extended the lead to 32-24 with 7:50 remaining in the period. Swarthmore fought back, closing the gap to two after Jordana Sampson hit a three-pointer, but Feifer answered with a triple of her own, and Jakway restored a seven-point cushion. The teams continued to trade baskets, but Jakway's deep shot with 3:46 left kept the Fords in front. A three-pointer from Leverton at the 2:30 mark and another Jakway bucket gave Haverford a seven-point lead entering the final quarter.
The Fords' defense was instrumental in the fourth, holding Swarthmore to just seven points. Despite some late turnovers, key defensive stops and clutch free throws allowed Haverford to maintain control. Emuobor sealed the win with back-to-back layups, pushing the lead to 11 with just over two minutes remaining.
Mercer dished out a team-high four assists in the victory, while Ryan added seven points and eight rebounds in another well-rounded effort.
Swarthmore was led by Carly Murphy's 13 points, while Alyssa Hayashi chipped in 10. The Garnet struggled from the field, shooting just 27.4 percent (17-for-62), compared to Haverford's 37.0 percent (20-for-54). The Fords also won the battle on the boards, outrebounding Swarthmore 44-36.
With the season now complete, Haverford shifts its focus to offseason preparation. The young squad will look to build on its five Centennial Conference wins and take another step forward in 2024-25. While the team will miss the leadership of Emuobor, it returns a strong core of contributors, setting the stage for a promising season ahead.