2013 ECAC Division III South Semifinals - Swarthmore vs. Washington & Jefferson

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The second seeded Swarthmore College women’s basketball team rallied from a six-point deficit midway through the first half and led the entire second half to post a 78-63 victory over third seed Washington & Jefferson College in the first of two ECAC Division III South Championship Semifinals played at Moravian College’s Johnston Hall Saturday.

            The Garnet, now 22-7 on the season, advance to the championship game on Sunday, March 3rd at 1:00 p.m. in Johnston Hall versus the winner of the other semifinals game between the top see and host Greyhounds and fourth seed Juniata College.

            W&J scored the opening basket of the game on a lay-up by sophomore forward Valerie Dunlap 21 seconds into the game. The Garnet countered on their first possession when sophomore forward Elle Larsen put back a missed three-pointer to the game. The squads would trade baskets until Swarthmore led 11-8 on a jumper from junior guard Katie Lytle at the 14:43 mark.

            The Presidents would score the next nine points of the game to build a 17-11 advantage on a jumper from freshman guard/forward Beka Bellhy with 11:12 left in the first half. Swarthmore answered with a 7-1 run to tie the game at 18-18 on a lay-up by Larsen, and the Garnet moved back in front, 21-20 on a three-point play from Lytle.

            The teams traded baskets again over the next several minutes before Swarthmore took a 27-26 lead on a lay-up from Lytle, and the Garnet headed to the locker room with a 34-29 lead after a three-pointer from Lytle with 20 seconds left in the first half.

            Swarthmore was 14-for-35 (40 percent) from the floor, two-for-ten on three-pointers and four-for-five at the foul line in the opening 20 minutes of the game. The Garnet committed just two turnovers in the first half while forcing the Presidents into ten turnovers. W&J connected on 13-of-25 (52 percent) from the floor, two-of-seven three-pointers and one-of-two at the foul line. The Presidents had an 18-16 edge in rebounds in the opening 20 minutes of action.

            Senior guard Eliza Poli opened the second half for Swarthmore with a three-pointer, and the Garnet pushed their lead to double figures, 42-31, at the 17:08 mark on a jumper from Lytle. Swarthmore continued a run to start the half and eventually had a 20-point edge, 53-33, after a three-pointer from freshman forward Abbey Decker with 13:30 left in the game.

            W&J would close within 14 points, 58-44, after two free throws by senior guard Emily Abraham with 9:35 to play but that would be as close as the Presidents would get.

            Swarthmore had a hot shooting hand in the second half as the Garnet connected on 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) field goal attempts, six-of-12 three-pointers and eight-of-11 free throws in the final 20 minutes of action. Swarthmore had just nine turnovers in the contest while W&J had 15 miscues. The Presidents had a 34-32 edge in rebounds, and W&J made 12-of-30 field goal attempts (40 percent), one-of-three three-pointers and nine-of-13 free throws in the second half.

            Lytle led Swarthmore with 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals while Larsen contributed 18 points and six rebounds. Senior guard Madeline Ross tossed in nine points while Deckard finished with eight points. Polli had seven points and five assists for the Garnet.

            Dunlap led the Presidents with 25 points, ten rebounds and three blocked shots while Abraham finished with ten points and five rebounds. Junior guard/forward Chelsea Apke finished with eight points and six rebounds for W&J.