Boxscore

(Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson College women's basketball team played one of its best games of the season on Saturday. The Red Devils suffered a 63-58 setback to visiting Franklin & Marshall despite an outstanding team effort.

Thanks to a gracious act of sportsmanship by the Diplomats, senior guard Taylor Miller (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) was allowed the start her final game, after her season was cut short due to an injury.

The Red Devils turned in an inspired performance for their senior captain, jumping out to a 7-2 lead and pulled in front, 15-8, with 12:09 to play in the first half. The Diplomats pulled even, tying the game at 24 with 7:33 on the clock.

First-year Sarah Phillips (West Amwell, N.J./South Hunterdon) made a steal and scored at the buzzer to put the Devils up, 32-28 at halftime.

A pair of Bridget Borgese (Swarthmore, Pa./Notre Dame de Namur) free throws gave Dickinson a 36-30 lead, early in the second half. The Diplomats went on a 6-0 run to knot the game, 40-40, at the 12:08 mark.

The teams went back and forth, playing to a 50-50 tie with 6:41 remaining in regulation. A 6-1 run from F&M gave the visitors a 56-51 advantage with just 1:40 on the clock. Borgese drove to the basket, scored and was fouled. She converted the free throw to pull the Devils within a bucket, 58-56, with 15 seconds to play.

Borgese answered a pair of Colleen Bott free throws with another field-goal to keep the Devils' hopes alive with just seven seconds remaining in the game. The Diplomats would hold on, however, as Alexa Barbush sank 3-of-4 free throws in the final seconds to secure the win.

Junior Dana Walsh (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) turned in strong performance with a double-double. She scored 13 points and controlled a game-high 11 rebounds, hitting 5-of-8 shots from the floor and 3-of-3 from the line to with a pair of assists.

Borgese finished with a team-high 17 points, adding eight rebounds while handing out five assists. She also shot well, hitting 4-of-8 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Junior Belma Mekic (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff) tallied 10 points, recording three steals and three rebounds.

Barbush tallied a game-high 24 points, controlling seven rebounds and recording four steals. Liz Snyder and Megan Pauley each added 12 for the Diplomats (18-7, 15-5 CC).

The Red Devils finish the season 3-22 overall and 3-17 in the Centennial Conference.