Women's Basketball Championship Homepage
Release courtesy of Dickinson Athletic Communications
CARLISLE, Pa. – The Dickinson women's basketball team made a strong run to close out the opening round of the Centennial Conference playoffs, pulling away from Swarthmore College for a 59-49 victory on Tuesday night.
Senior Emily Padalino opened the game with a three-pointer and the Red Devils jumped out to an early 7-2 advantage.
Swarthmore pulled in front late in the first quarter to lead 13-10 at the first break. The Garnet would hold the lead through most of the contest until a 23-9 fourth quarter propelled the Red Devils into Friday night's semifinal at Haverford College.
Padalino knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the second to give Dickinson a 27-25 lead at halftime.
Halle Maeda hit a three-pointer to start the second half before the Garnet rallied and took a 40-36 edge into the final quarter.
First-year Mia Kolb sparked a quick start in the fourth as the Red Devils turned up the intensity. Kolb made a strong move and completed a three-point play to pull Dickinson within one and then buried a three-pointer for a 44-42 lead at the 5:55 mark.
Kate Montgomery dished a nice feed to Kate Deutsch before a three-pointer from Maeda and foul-line jumper by Padalino gave the Red Devils a seven-point advantage with 3:31 remaining in regulation.
Swarthmore made a final push, cutting the deficit to three, but a strong move inside from Deutsch and free throws from Kolb, Leverone and Maeda secured the win down the stretch.
Deutsch worked her way to a game-high 18 points, pulling down eight rebounds including three on the offensive end. Kolb went 5-for-7 from the floor, scoring 14 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Padalino finished with 13 points and eight rebounds and Maeda went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, adding 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Red Devils improve to 16-10 on the season. They advance to Friday night's semifinals at Haverford and will square-off against the top-seeded Fords at 6 pm. Second-seeded Gettysburg will take on third-seeded Johns Hopkins in Friday's second semifinal at 8 p.m.