ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Swarthmore College women's basketball team dropped a tight battle on the road against Muhlenberg College, 75-71, on Friday night. The Garnet nearly pulled off a late comeback - outscoring the Mules 20-11 in the final quarter, but fell just short of overtaking Muhlenberg.

Dana Bandurick had a game-high 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while shooting an efficient 8-of-11 from the field. The junior continued her stellar 2021-22 campaign with her 10th double-double of the season. Kim Kockenmeister and Alyssa Hayashi also scored in double-figures for the Garnet with 18 and 12 points, respectively. Kockenmeister had the hot hand from long range - knocking down a game-high four three-pointers. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet put together five-unanswered points with the game knotted at six. Hayashi opened the rally with a pair at the foul line, while Kockenmeister knocked down a triple to take a five-point advantage. Later in the quarter, Kockenmeister buried another three-pointer to put Swarthmore ahead by seven points, 19-12. However, Muhlenberg would end the stanza on an 11-2 run to take the opening frame, 23-21. 

- Kockenmeister regained the lead for the Garnet with a layup at the 8:40 mark. Caroline Lopez then built on the lead with a layup, but the Mules answered with a long ball to tie the game. Muhlenberg then gained momentum as they built their first half lead as high as 10 points. The Mules entered halftime with a 44-35 lead after ending the last six minutes of the quarter on a 15-6 rally.

- The Garnet trimmed its deficit to two points with a 12-5 run to open the second half. However, Muhlenberg would end the stanza with a 13-point lead to mark its largest advantage at the time, 64-51.

- Muhlenberg expanded its lead to a game-high 15 points to open the final quarter. Moments later, Colleen Anderson provided the Garnet a lift with a three-pointer to cut the team's deficit to 11 points with 6:07 remaining. Bandurick then added four unanswered points, while Anderson drained another triple to pull within seven points. After a Mules layup brought their lead back to nine points, Bandurick responded with five-unanswered points to pull within four, 72-68, at the 2:39 mark. 

GARNET LEADERS
- Points: Bandurick 23, Kockenmeister 18
- Rebounds: Bandurick 16
- Assists: Kockenmeister 5
- Steals: Kockenmeister 3

UP NEXT
The Garnet (9-8, 5-7) return to action tomorrow at Franklin & Marshall. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.