Haverford loses Final Game in Overtime.
Natalie Richman scored a career-high 18 points.
02/23/08 - The Fords cannot hold onto a nine point lead, lose to Swarthmore, 74-65.
SWARTHMORE, Pa. – In the final contest of the 2008 season, Haverford lost a heartbreaker, 74-65, in overtime on Saturday afternoon in Centennial Conference action at Tarble Pavilion at Swarthmore.
The Fords were led by Natalie Richman, who netted a career-high 18 points before fouling out with five minutes left in regulation. She scored 11 of her points in the first half. Her previous high was 11 against Johns Hopkins last season. Brittany Lattisaw scored 17 points, 14 of which were in the first half. She also grabbed 15 rebounds, had six steals and five blocks. Erica Juliano netted 14 points.
The Garnet had five players score in double-figures. Pamela Costello and Kathryn Stockbower each netted 16 points. Laura Popovics scored 13, Melissa Grigsby had 12 and Ceylan Bodur finished with 11. Stockbower pulled in 20 boards and Costello grabbed 11. Popovics scored 10 of her points in overtime.
The Fords (3-21, 0-18 CC) started the game strong by scoring the first seven points. They held Swarthmore (8-16, 5-13 CC) scoreless for the first three minutes. However, the Garnet scored the next five points to make it a 7-5 Ford lead.
The Garnet took their first lead with seven minutes left on two free throws, 18-17. Juliano then tied the game at 18-all on the Fords next possession, making 1-of-2 free throws. Swat took a 20-18 lead with 5:10 left
Richman made a jumper to tie at 20. She then made a lay-up for the Fords to take a 22-20 lead. Lattisaw made 1-of-2 free throws to extend the lead to three. Lattisaw followed-up with a lay-up and got fouled, she made the free throw to make the score 26-20 with 3:20 left. The teams traded baskets over the last few minutes of the half and the Fords took a 30-25 lead into the break.
Haverford shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half while holding Swarthmore to 31.3 percent.
After the teams traded baskets to start the second half, Swarthmore cut the lead to two, 38-36, at the 15:16 mark on a three by Popovics. Haverford answered with four straight points to increase its lead back to six.
The Garnet cut the lead to two again, but Alejandra Alvarez hit a shot from downtown. Richman then made two free throws to give the Fords a 50-42 lead with 8:37 left.
Swarthmore scored seven of the next nine points, but off a timeout, Alvarez hit a three make the lead six, 55-49.
The Garnet did not let up and tied the game at 55-all with 3:20 left in regulation. The Fords would score the next four points, but would not score another point in the second half.
Costello made 2-of-2 from the line to cut the lead to two under two minutes left. After a Fords turnover, Grigsby tied the game at 59-all wit 1:23 left. No one could make another basket and the game went into overtime.
Overtime started much like the second half with the teams trading baskets, but Popovics hit a three-pointer to give Swarthmore the lead for good, 63-61, with 3:10 left. Kendra Smythe hit a jumper to cut the lead to four, but Popovics answered with another three-pointer to seal the victory.
The game marked the last contest for five Ford seniors: Leah Fiasca, Erica Juliano, Mai-Khoi Nguyen, Kendra Smythe and Liz Theibert.