Box Score (Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson women's basketball team had a strong outing against #16-ranked Muhlenberg College on Thursday night at the Kline Center. The Mules were able to pull away at the end, 74-60, but were unable to secure the win until the final minutes of the game.
Muhlenberg looked to gain some momentum in the early minutes, taking a 15-6 lead at the midpoint of the first quarter. The Red Devils answered with strong play from Hannah Heiring (Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata) to cut into the deficit.
Sophomore Emily Padalino (West Sand Lake, N.Y./Albany Academy) and Heiring closed out the half with back-to-back three-pointers to pull the Red Devils within four at the break, 24-20.
The Mules stretched the lead to nine again in the second quarter before Padalino countered with a three-pointer and a short jumper to cut the margin back to four. Muhlenberg finished the half strong as three-pointers from Rachel Plotke and Christina Manning put the visitors in front, 47-34.
The Red Devils had another strong third quarter and outscored the Mules 15-12. Plotke put Muhlenberg up by 18 to start the second half before Lauren McBride (Trenton, N.J./Gill St. Bernard's) answered with a three-pointer on the other end.
Kassidy Lesher (Shoemakersville, Pa./Hamburg) added a pair of free throws and Heiring cut the margin to 10 with a three-pointer at the 5:15 mark. The Red Devils continued to keep the Mules in striking distance as Padalino knocked down a triple to close out the period with the score, 59-49.
Dickinson played even with the Mules throughout the fourth quarter but they would hold on to improve to 17-1 on the season and 12-1 in the Centennial Conference.
Lesher finished with her seventh straight double-double and 11th of the season, leading the Red Devils with 19 points and 13 rebounds. She was solid at the line, going 9-for-10 on the night.
Padalino went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, scoring 16 points while Heiring finished 3-for-5 from long range, adding 16 points as well. McBride tallied five points, nine rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Mackenzie Skerritt (Hightstown, N.J./The Peddie School) had five rebounds and four assists.
The Red Devils slip to 6-12 overall and 6-7 in the Centennial Conference. They are home again on Saturday, hosting Haverford College at 2:00 pm.
