Box Score

LANCASTER, PA - In a game of runs, visiting Johns Hopkins outscored host Franklin & Marshall 14-3 over the final six minutes to break open a tight game as the Blue Jays picked up a crucial 73-61 Centennial Conference women's basketball victory Thursday night in the Mayser Center. The win is the second straight for the Blue Jays, who improve to 5-8 overall and 3-4 in the Centennial. F&M slips to 3-11, 2-6.

Hopkins led just 59-58 with 6:20 remaining in the game after an old-fashioned three-point play by F&M's Anajha Burnett capped a quick 5-0 Diplomat run. From there, it was all Hopkins as a layup by senior Beatriz Williams ignited the game-ending spree for the Blue Jays, who held the Diplomats scoreless from the 6:20 mark until just 34 seconds remained.

Williams' layup was followed by a Sophia Way jumper and the Blue Jays hit 8-of-10 from the line down the stretch. The Blue Jay defense forced seven straight scoreless trips by the Diplomats between Burnett's three-point play and a Sarah Haddon layup after Hopkins had built its lead to 70-58.

The alternating runs started early as the Blue Jays led 29-24 with just under seven minutes remaining in the second quarter after a layup by senior Katie Clark, but the Diplomats answered with an 18-3 run to grab a 42-32 lead with 1:15 left in the first half. The spree was fueled by eight points from Haley Pilone, including back-to-back three pointers in a span of just over 30 seconds. An Erica Brown layup capped the run for the Diplomats, who carried a 42-36 lead into the half after a layup by Rachel Cook and a pair of free throws by Janay Smith trimmed the deficit to six.

It took just more than half of the third quarter for the Blue Jays to catch the Diplomats as Hopkins opened the second half with a 14-7 run that turned the 42-36 halftime deficit into a 50-49 lead. The half-opening run was bookended by Blue Jay freshmen as Lillian Scott opened the half with a three pointer and Way nailed a mid-range jumper to give Hopkins the one point lead. Clark and Williams added three pointers during the run for Johns Hopkins.

Hopkins led 59-53 after back-to-back layups by Way and Williams early in the fourth quarter, but the Diplomats were within one a short time later after Burnett's layup and free throw. From there, Williams' layup ignited what would be the final decisive run in game that started with a 17-5 F&M spree. That game-opening surge was answered by a 12-0 Hopkins run that set the stage for a back-and-forth affair that wasn't decided until the Blue Jays' final surge.

Williams led the Blue Jays with a season-high 17 points in just 17 minutes, while Way (15 points) and Cook (12) both struck for career highs.

Pilone led four F&M players in double figures as she scored a game-high 22 points and accounted for four of the Diplomats' seven triples in the game.

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