HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's basketball team (11-5, 9-3 CC) returned to Gooding '84 Arena for a matchup with Centennial Conference leaders Dickinson (10-4, 7-2 CC) on Saturday afternoon. In a battle between two elite teams, the Fords erased a double-digit lead in the final five minutes to hand Dickinson just its second conference loss by a score of 52-50. Ally Landau scored 21 points and made the eventual game-winning basket while Cortlyn Morris held things down on the defensive end with a whopping eight blocks and six rebounds. With the win, the Fords now sit in third place in the CC, and only one game back of first-place position.
Haverford won the first matchup between these two teams 54-38, so naturally, Dickinson arrived at Haverford on a mission to avenge its only conference loss of the season in Carlisle. However, the Fords were on the front foot for the opening minutes of the contest. Landau kicked things off with a three-pointer and Abby Ryan followed that up with a layup on the very next possession.
Action would continue for a few minutes before Landau and Ryan poured in back back-to-back baskets again to give the Fords an early 11-4 lead. Dickinson worked its way back into the game to eventually tie the contest at 18 before the end of the quarter, thanks to a buzzer-beating jump shot from Jenna Weinstein.
Things wouldn't go too well for the Fords in the second quarter as they only managed three points in the frame. The Red Devils took advantage of those struggles and before anyone knew it, Haverford was staring at a seven-point deficit at halftime. Summer Ryan and Eleanor Alix scored the team's only points of the third quarter.
Dickinson pushed the lead to ten in the early goings of the third, and then increased its lead to 12 after a basket from Kate Montgomery. The Fords struggled to get anything going on the offensive end, but it wasn't for the lack of good chances; the shots just wouldn't fall. Kayla Robinson, who was somewhat quiet on the offensive end in the first half, scored four of her eight points in the third quarter to at least keep the Fords within striking distance. A Landau three decreased the Dickinson lead back to just seven heading into the final quarter, as that triple gave Haverford a little momentum to hang onto.
Dickinson refused to let go of the lead throughout the early moments of the fourth. After a jump shot by Morris to cut the lead to five, Dickinson increased the lead back to ten at the seven-minute mark. The Fords called a timeout to regroup. Whatever was said in the huddle eventually turned the entire game on its head. Landau was fouled driving to the basket following the timeout and converted both of her free throws. Dickinson's Clair Marion knocked down a three in response, but Morris answered with a layup on the other end. Mia Kolb then converted one of two free throws for the Red Devils to make the score 50-40, but that is when the hosts took over.
With five minutes remaining in the game, Erin Albright buried a three to cut the lead to seven. With under four minutes left, Robinson missed a layup but grabbed her own rebound and then quickly dished it to Morris for a layup to make the deficit just five. Landau then pulled up on a fast break three-point attempt but was fouled. The junior knocked calmly down all three free throws and suddenly, the lead was just two. The Red Devils missed another attempt, now scoreless for over four minutes, allowing the Fords to tie the game. Haverford did just that after great hustle from Landau to get her put-back attempt to fall. Dickinson then took the ball up the floor to get a good look on a three-point attempt but it fell harmlessly as Robinson grabbed the rebound.
Haverford called timeout, knowing they had the opportunity to do something special on their home floor. Alix had a very good look from three but it glanced off the rim. Robinson grabbed one of her game-best 16 rebounds to get another shot at taking the lead. Landau used a screen to drive to the right side of the court and put up a floating layup with five seconds remaining to give the Fords their first lead since the first quarter.
With Dickinson getting one last shot to try to force overtime, Marion drove into the paint thinking she had an open layup, but Robinson used her athleticism to block the shot with only two seconds left on the clock. The Red Devils ran an inbounds play to find Montgomery for a straight-on shot from mid-range, but Morris again rose to block it for her eighth of the game to the sound of the game's final buzzer.
The Fords finished the game on a 12-0 run to take down the Red Devils behind a strong effort on the defensive end. Haverford out-rebounded Dickinson 45-35, and converted 13 of their 15 free throw attempts. The home victory was the Fords' largest comeback of the season and their 12th straight victory over Dickinson dating back to 2016.
Haverford will play their final home contest of January on Wednesday, January 18 when they take on Muhlenberg. It will be the first of a women's and men's doubleheader with the Senior Varsity Blanket Ceremony also taking place at halftime of the men's game. The tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 8 p.m.