Freshman Mikaela McGarvey scored 15 of her career-high 22 points in the second half to lead the Muhlenberg women's basketball team to an important 73-63 home win against Ursinus.

The Bears (12-6, 9-4) came in as winners of nine of their last 10 Centennial Conference games and in third place in the CC, two games ahead of the Mules (11-6, 7-5). The result left the Mules a game out of third place and two games ahead of their closest pursuers for the fifth and final playoff berth.

After Muhlenberg missed all 10 of its three-point attempts in the first half, McGarvey singlehandedly flipped the script in the second half, going 5-for-6 from long range. Her three from the corner off an offensive rebound and kickout pass by junior Madison Kirchofer early in the third quarter doubled a three-point Mule lead to six, and Ursinus never got within five points the rest of the way.

The Bears were down six in the first minute of the fourth quarter before McGarvey hit three consecutive threes to extend the advantage to 15 and put the game out of reach.

McGarvey, whose previous high was 11 points, is the second Mule freshman to record a 20-point game this season; Tara Szawaluk scored 23 against Moravian. The last time Muhlenberg had two freshmen with 20-point games was 1990 - almost 30 years ago.

Szawaluk and senior Sara Dilly each finished with 8 points and 3 assists against the Bears, while four other players scored 6 points apiece.

The Mules faced their biggest deficit, five points, before ending the first half on a 10-3 run fueled by defense, with Szawaluk and freshman Margaux Eripret making steals that led directly to baskets. Sophomore Ny Thomas recorded 3 steals for a defense that forced 19 turnovers.

Muhlenberg's interior defense held the Bears' leading scorer, who leads the CC in double-doubles, to 5 points and 7 rebounds. Senior Carley Hamilton blocked 3 shots.

Freshman Amanda Gorski (pictured above) scored 5 points, 3 on a fast-break layup-and-one off a long pass by junior Ashley Polera.

The Mules have beaten Ursinus 21 straight times.