Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gettysburg shaved a double-figure deficit down to three in the final minute of its Centennial Conference battle with Franklin & Marshall College, but the Diplomats capitalized at the charity stripe down the stretch to pull out a 64-56 victory inside Bream Gym Wednesday night.

Gettysburg (2-5, 1-3 CC) looked like it was all but done trailing 59-49 with 55 seconds left against Franklin & Marshall (4-2, 4-0 CC). After corralling the rebound following a missed free throw, the Bullets raced down the court with freshman Taylor Flatau drilling a three-pointer from the wing.

After a quick timeout, the hosts set up for the full-court press and forced the Diplomats into a turnover. Flatau came up with the ball away and dropped a lay-up into the bucket to cut the lead to 59-54 with 39 seconds left.

Gettysburg's timeout strategy after the bucket worked its magic once again with sophomore Cori Younghans coming up with the loose ball on the Bullets' side of the court. Younghans missed the lay-up after the turnover, but the ball eventually caromed off a Diplomat and out-of-bounds. Younghans made her next lay-up try to pull the score to 59-56 with just 25 ticks left.

Franklin & Marshall nearly turned it over again following another Gettysburg timeout, but a foul was called before the ball found its way to the sideline. Reigning CC Player of the Week Alexa Barbush canned both free throws to pad the advantage to five (61-56) with 24 seconds left.

Gettysburg missed its next shot and was forced to foul. After the Diplomats picked up one point at the charity stripe, the Bullets came down the court with under 20 seconds remaining only to have an errant pass go out-of-bounds. Barbush was sent to the line again and she capped a 23-point night with two more free throws to set the final margin with 10 seconds left.

Wednesday's contest was close throughout with Franklin & Marshall jumping out to an early lead only to see Gettysburg go ahead 20-17 on a putback by senior Lauren Dadigan with 4:51 left in the first half.

That would be the host's last lead as the Diplomats mounted a 12-1 run to pull ahead 29-21 with 1:37 to go before the break. The score stood at 31-25 heading into the half.

The visitors went ahead by eight early in the final period, but Gettysburg was able to take advantage of some turnovers to stay within striking distance. After a steal by freshman Sam Pagel, sophomore Caroline Murphy knocked down a jumper to cut the lead to 45-42 with 7:46 to play.

Franklin & Marshall came right back with the next seven points, including six straight by Barbush to post its first double-figure lead at 52-42 with 2:56 remaining.

Gettysburg finished 23-of-61 (37.7 percent) from the field, while Franklin & Marshall made one more shot in the same number attempts (24-of-61, 39.3 percent). Both teams committed 25 turnovers, but the Diplomats owned a 43-35 advantage on the boards.

Three players reached double figures for Gettysburg. Sophomore Alyssa Isler led the way with a season-high 11 points, including a 4-of-5 effort at the line. Murphy also notched a season high with 10 points, adding five boards and three assists.

Senior Sara Kinsley finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks before fouling out. She is now just four blocks shy of tying Gettysburg's career record.

Barbush did a little of everything for Franklin & Marshall. She finished 7-of-16 from the field and 9-of-10 at the charity stripe, while adding four rebounds and five steals. Kristina McCarthy posted a double-double with 10 points and a dozen boards, including nine caroms on the offensive glass.

Gettysburg's last action in 2011 will take place this Friday, Dec. 9, when the Bullets travel to Swarthmore College. Game time is 7 p.m.