(Allentown, Pa.) – The Dickinson women's basketball team made a great run at #10-ranked Muhlenberg, turning in a dominant second quarter to erase a strong start from the Mules. The hosts put together a solid second half for the final of 71-45, but had to work the entire game as the Red Devils battled to the end.

The Mules jumped out to an early lead and stretched the margin to 15-5 at the end of the first quarter. The hosts struck first to open the second before the Red Devils went to work, putting together a remarkable run to cut the deficit to just three.

Dickinson outscored Muhlenberg 18-13 in the second period, hitting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, led by a pair of triples from junior guard Helen Roberts (Oakton, Va./Oakton).

The Red Devils struck first as first-year Jackie Joyce (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) knocked down a three-pointer to open the game. The Mules built the lead to 21-7 but the Red Devils would make a furious comeback, outscoring the hosts 13-3, to cut the deficit to 24-20 with 3:24 remaining in the half.

Maggie Zerbe countered for Muhlenberg with a pair of free throws before Roberts buried a three-pointer to make the score, 26-23, at halftime.

Junior Mary Martin (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) hit a jumper in the opening minute of the second half to quickly make it a two-point game. Muhlenberg came out strong after the break, however, putting together a 10-0 run to go up by 13 at the 5:43 mark of the third quarter.

Roberts hit back-to-back three's to cut the lead to nine before the Mules closed out the period with a 14-5 run to take a 54-37 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Dickinson played even with Muhlenberg throughout the better part of the fourth quarter but were unable to gain any ground on the Mules down the stretch as they closed out the game, 71-45.

Brandi Valley led Muhlenberg (9-0, 4-0) with 15 points and five steals while Christina Santone controlled 12 rebounds and blocked five shots.

Roberts finished with a game-high 16 points, hitting four three-pointers on the night and handing out three assists. Joyce reached double-figures with 13 points, adding five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Sophomore Kassidy Lesher (Shoemakersville, Pa./Hamburg) controlled the boards with a game-high 13 rebounds as Dickinson outrebounded the Mules, 18-12, on the offensive glass. Martin tallied seven points, six rebounds and three assists.

The Red Devils slip to 4-6 overall and 1-4 in the Centennial Conference. They return home to face Washington College on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm.