Jan. 11, 2011

Box Score

CHESTERTOWN, MD - The Johns Hopkins women's basketball team dropped its second straight game, 57-56, to upset-minded Washington College on Tuesday afternoon in Centennial Conference action. The Blue Jays fall to 9-3 (6-2 CC) on the year, while the Shorewomen snap a five-game losing streak to improve to 4-8 (2-5 CC) with the win, avenging a 73-50 loss to JHU on November 30.

Trailing 55-53 with just 43 seconds remaining and Washington in possession of the ball, the JHU defense turned up the pressure in a must-stop situation. Junior Chantel Mattiola intercepted a Shorewomen pass several feet beyond the top of the key, starting a fast-break for the visiting Blue Jays. Mattiola turned her steal into points on the other end as she drove all the way in for a layup on the right side and also drew a Washington foul. With the score knotted at 55-55, Mattiola calmly sank the free throw to complete the and-one give Hopkins a 56-55 advantage with 28 seconds left on the clock.

After working the ball around the perimeter several times on the ensuing trip down the floor, Washington junior Meghan Tait drove towards the basket on the left baseline and missed a running layup that didn't hit touch the rim. Tait stayed with the play and was able to collect her miss, turn towards the hoop and drill a short jumper with just nine seconds left to give Washington a 57-56 lead.

Mattiola dribbled the length of the floor with time ticking down and drew some contact on an off-balance layup on the right side of the lane, but was unable to finish the attempt or draw the foul call and the Shorewomen walked away with the one-point win.

The Blue Jays took a 31-22 lead into the halftime break, but were held scoreless for the first 4:04 of the second half as the Shorewomen went on an 8-1 run to pull within 32-30 with 15:25 remaining in the game. A Mattiola three-pointer gave JHU a 39-34 advantage with 13:21 left, but Washington scored on its next three possessions to tie the game for the first time at 41-41 with 11:42 remaining.

Freshman Erin Fitzgerald gave Washington its first lead, 47-45, after sinking two free throws at the 7:16 mark.

JHU battled back by going on a 8-2 run over the next 2:29 to take a 53-49 lead at the 4:47 mark of the second stanza.

The Shorewomen continued to counter each Hopkins run with scoring spurts of their own, as the hosts scored six straight points to take a 55-53 lead, meanwhile also holding JHU scoreless from the 4:47 mark until Mattiola's layup with 28 seconds left.

Senior Lyndsay Burton notched game-highs of 23 points, 10 rebounds and three steals to lead Hopkins. Senior Siobhan Callanan and Mattiola totaled 10 points each, while junior Kat Fox added six points, six rebounds and three assists.

Freshman Latisha Pledger came up big for Washington down the stretch, scoring 10 of her team-high 16 points over the final 12:40, including a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. Junior Sally O'Donnell totaled 15 points for the Shorewomen, while Tait contributed nine points and eight rebounds.

Johns Hopkins returns to action on Thursday, January 13 against Centennial Conference foe Swarthmore. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 pm in Swarthmore, PA.