Junior Emilie Benton scored 12 points and drained three three-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Muhlenberg women's basketball team pulled away late to win its Centennial Conference opener at Dickinson, 53-47.

The Mules (4-0, 1-0) trailed, 43-42, with under four minutes to play before junior Ashley Polera found classmate Madison Kirchofer in transition for a go-ahead layup – similar to the winning basket in overtime in the season-opening game at Skidmore.

After a defensive stop, Polera drove in for a left-handed layup, falling to the floor due to a foul as the ball fell through the net. She made the free throw to extend the lead to 47-43 with 3:04 to play.

It was 47-44 before Benton (pictured above) hit a three from the wing to double the lead with 1:20 to play.

Dickinson (2-2, 0-1) answered with a three of its own with 29.5 seconds left, but two free throws by senior Sara Dilly and one by Kirchofer in the final 11.7 seconds provided the final margin.

Polera and Dilly each scored 10 points for the Mules, who led by as many as nine points in the third quarter.

Senior Carley Hamilton pulled down 10 rebounds, including three off Red Devil misses in the final two minutes, and senior Eva Sodaitis had another strong game off the bench, with 7 points and 6 rebounds.

Muhlenberg is 4-0 for the fourth time in six years and has held all of its opponents under 50 points.