Box Score
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Centennial Conference (CC) scoring leader Amy Kreitz poured in a game-high 23 points and Amy Abernathy tallied a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead Franklin & Marshall past Gettysburg 65-59 in CC women's basketball action on Thursday.
Despite the absence of Lauren Howanski, the CC's third-leading scorer, the Diplomats (15-5, 9-2 CC) used a 20-6 second-half run to erase a six-point deficit and move into a tie for first place in the CC West Division with Johns Hopkins.
Steph Drevna (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster Catholic) and Keriann Van Nostrand (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan Reg.) each scored a team-high 14 points for the Bullets, who fell two games out of a playoff spot with two games left in the regular season.
Gettysburg (17-5, 8-4 CC) pushed a 30-27 halftime lead to six points when Jay Hodge (Silver Spring, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) hit a layup at the 16:59 mark to make it 35-29 before F&M put on the defensive clamps.
Keyed by two baskets from Kreitz, the Diplomats pulled even at 35, then took the lead for good at 41-39 when Abernathy scored inside off a pass from Jamie Drahos at 12:12.
While the Bullets went scoreless except for a pair of Dana Bear (Lansdale, PA/Lansdale Catholic) free throws, Kreitz scored six points over the next 4:05 to push the F&M advantage to 49-41 with 5:53 remaining.
Katharine Dempsey knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:59 left to give the Diplomats' its largest lead at 55-45.
The Bullets were able to stay in the game down the stretch due almost single-handedly to junior Kelsey Williams (Wanamie, PA/Greater Nanticoke), who scored 10 of her 12 points in the furious final two minutes.
Gettysburg pulled to within 62-59 on the last of Williams' baskets with 25 seconds left, but could get no closer in the final seconds. Drahos, Kreitz and Amanda Rader all drained single free throws to seal the win.
Behind 12 points from Van Nostrand and 10 from Drevna, Gettysburg jumped out to a 26-18 first-half lead and took a 30-27 edge into the locker room.
Hodge posted her eighth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds while Drevna added five assists and five steals.
Kreitz, who scored 26 points in a 73-70 loss to Gettysburg on Jan. 13, added nine rebounds and four steals in the win.
The Bullets return to action on Saturday, February 10 at Western Maryland College. Game time is 1 p.m.
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