CARLISLE, Pa. - Junior Caitlin Blackman posted a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double and classmate Jenna Weinstein netted eleven, as the third-seeded Dickinson women's basketball team held off a furious late-game charge from the sixth-seeded Swarthmore College to secure a 46-42 win in the first round of the Centennial Conference Tournament at the Kline Center.

The visitors began the game strong with a triple by Neve Yair and a foul shot for Emily Smith making it 4-0 just about two minutes in. The remainder of the period belonged to Dickinson two three-balls from Blackman, a long-range bomb by Weinstein and additional buckets for Lindsey Hollenshead and Weinstein capped a 15-0 run to take a 15-4 lead into the second. 

Swarthmore continued to struggle from the floor as they went scoreless for over ten minutes as they missed their opening four shots, while Weinstein added another trey for an 18-4 advantage. Finally, with 7:57 left in the second period Anna Hansson ended the drought and kicked off an 8-2 charge as Alyssa Hayashi chipped in as well to cut into the gap slightly at 20-12. A three-ball each from Clair Marion and Blackman extended the margin back to double-digits by taking six of the next ten making it 26-16 at 7:37 mark. The Garnet collected the final three points of the period through Carly Murphy and Hayashi to close within 26-19 at the break. 

After a missed triple by Blackman, Abby John tracked down the loose ball and fired it out to Marion who buried a shot from deep to open the third (29-19). Buckets by Dana Bandurick, Norah Wingfield, and Hayashi led to a 9-2 rush by the Garnet to shrink the margin to five (31-26) with just under four minutes remaining. Dickinson wrapped up the period on a 7-2 outburst thanks to a trey by Weinstein and jumpers from both Blackman and Hollenshead to hold a 38-28 advantage heading to the final frame. 

Both teams struggled early in the fourth as they combined to miss the opening six shots of the period, before Bandurick and Blackman traded three points each to leave it at 41-31 with 6:50 left. Over the ensuing five minutes the Garnet were on the comeback train as they forced Dickinson into five turnovers and four missed shots, while Katelyn Becker, Elisa Fiore,, Bandurick and Hayashi amassed an 11-3 romp to cut the deficit down to 44-42 with less than a minute to play. Coming out of a Swarthmore timeout at the 9:33 mark the Garnet drew up the perfect play leading to a pair of layup chances for Bandurick and Murphy that both clanged off the rim allowing Victoria Zerbe to grab the rebound. She would be fouled immediately leading to a pair of free throws. Unfortunately, she missed both giving the visitors one more trip down the floor, however, Neve Yair threw a pass right to Marion who was hacked by Bandurick resulting in two foul shots. Marion stepped to the line "cool as a cucumber" and delivered both shots for the Devils allowing the Red and White to secure the 46-42 win.

Red Devil Leaders
Points - Blackman (17), Weinstein (11), Hollenshead and Marion (8)
Assists - Marion (8), Blackman (3)
Rebounds - Blackman (10), Hollenshead and Marion (7)

Garnet Leaders
Points - Hayashi (8), Becker (7), Bandurick and Murphy (7)
Assists - Hayashi (2)
Rebounds - Hayashi (9), Bandurick (7)

Next on the Court
Dickinson (19-7) will now set their sets on a trip to the Gettysburg Battlefield and the second-seeded Gettysburg College Bullets at 8pm on Friday night inside of Bream Gymnasium. Full game preview and ticket link will be posted in the coming days stay tuned to dickinsonathletics.com for more information. Read Full Article