March 1, 2014

Box Score

HAVERFORD, PA - Haverford senior Nina Voith finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, as she helped lead the Fords to their first-ever Centennial Conference Title Saturday evening. The top-seeded hosts were dominant in the opening half, shooting 53.1% from the field while taking advantage of 13 first-half turnovers from the Blue Jays. Sophomore Katie Clark had a game-high 20 points, and fellow sophomore Liz Tommasi chipped in 15, but it was not enough for the third-seeded Blue Jays in the 66-56 defeat. Hopkins falls to 18-8 on the year with the loss, while Haverford improves to 23-3 and earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Haverford made a statement in the first half, playing at a completely different speed while pushing the pace on a seemingly flustered Hopkins squad. The Fords constantly forced the Jays into tight spots, and the Hopkins guards had difficulty getting the team going in offensive sets. After leading briefly in the opening minutes, Haverford took control of the lead at the 16:28 mark after two free throws from Rachel Baskin made it 6-5.

Hopkins was able to keep up with the high scoring Fords in the half's first ten minutes, as Tommasi and Clark found open shots and converted opportunities in the paint. But Haverford was relentless, turning steals and errant Blue Jay passes into easy layups on the other end, quickly building a double digit lead. Hopkins was forced to burn its second timeout at the 4:06 minute mark, after another turnover gave junior Elizabeth Lynch an easy fast break layup to put her team up 36-23.

The hosts led by as many as 18 in the half, before Tommasi was able to end her team's over five minute drought by picking off a pass and scoring on the fast break with 1:12 left to play. Despite two free throws from junior Maggie Fruehan in the final minute, the Blue Jays found themselves down 41-27 at the end of the first half.

Hopkins had some promising spurts of cohesive play in the second half, which started with a 7-2 run in the opening minutes of play. But as soon as JHU began to get within striking distance, the Fords answered, as a three pointer from senior Cara Wyant put her side up 46-34 at the 17:19 mark.

Hopkins was able to cut the lead to six multiple times in the half, and had its most threatening run in the game's final four minutes. After three good free throws from junior Ciara McCullagh put the Jays within nine, Hopkins took control of a rebound on the ensuing Haverford possession and charged back down the floor. Clark spotted up for three and hit it from the left side, and JHU quickly called timeout behind 60-54 with 1:31 remaining.

The Jays again got a stop on the defensive end, and again turned to Clark from long range to try and make it a one possession game. The shot would not fall, and a foul on Wyant put the Fords at the foul line in the final minute. The hosts hit their final four foul shots, to seal the 66-56 victory and earn their first-ever Centennial Championship.

Nina Voith was named the Centennial Conference Tournament MVP, leading Haverford in scoring in both of the team's CC Tournament games. This was the first time Hopkins was defeated by Haverford in Centennial postseason play, and the series stands at 2-1 in favor of the Jays. Hopkins will now wait for selection to any postseason tournaments in the coming days.

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