The Basics
• Score: Johns Hopkins-45, Haverford-39
• Records: JHU (17-8, 14-6 Centennial) • HC (21-4, 18-2 CC)
• Location: Baltimore, MD • Goldfarb Gym
 
How it Happened
The Johns Hopkins women's basketball team turned in yet another outstanding defensive effort on Saturday afternoon as the Blue Jays topped league-leading Haverford, 45-39, in the final regular season game of the year for both teams.  The Blue Jays secure the number three seed in the upcoming Centennial Conference Tournament with the win. The Fords were already assured of the top seed as they entered the game with an 18-1 Centennial record on the year.
 
Leading 20-16 at the half, the Blue Jays extended the lead to 33-23 at the end of three quarters by outscoring the Fords 13-7 in what proved to be the decisive quarter.
 
After trading baskets to open the third, the Blue Jays used a 9-2 run to turn a 22-18 lead into a 31-20 advantage with just under 90 seconds remaining in the period.  Back-to-back layups from junior Elise Moore ignited the run for the Blue Jays, who also got a pair of free throws from Diarra Oden and a three-pointer from freshman Emily Howie to fuel the run.
 
The Blue Jays built the lead as high as 13 early in the fourth quarter on consecutive buckets by Oden and still led by 11 at 43-31 after a jumper from Erin Walsh with 3:25 remaining, but the Fords had one final push.
 
A jumper by Anna-Sophia Capizzi at the 2:46 mark ignited an 8-0 run that trimmed the 12-point deficit to four with 24 seconds remaining before a pair of Howie free throws with 20 seconds on the clock sealed the win for the Blue Jays.
 
Johns Hopkins had built a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter (12-6), built that as high as seven in the second period at 19-12 and carried the four-point lead into halftime thanks in part to Oden, who scored eight points in the opening 20 minutes. The four-point lead held until Moore's back-to-back layup ignited the 9-2 lead that gave the Blue Jays what proved to be an insurmountable lead.
 
What it Means
• Johns Hopkins earns the number three seed in the upcoming Centennial Conference Tournament and will play second-seeded Gettysburg in the first semifinal at top-seeded Haverford on Friday, February 28 (6 pm).
• The Blue Jays extended their winning streak to a season-high five games, while they snapped Haverford's 11-game winning streak.  The Fords were also 17-1 in their last 18 games before today's loss.
 
Inside the Box Score
•  Oden led the Blue Jays with 15 points and has scored in double figures in all but two games this season.
• Walsh added seven points and seven rebounds and Howie chipped in with seven points and six rebounds.
• Capizzi, who entered the game averaging 19.6 points per game for the Fords, was held to 13 on 6-of-22 shooting.  Cortlyn Morris added 10 points and seven rebounds.
• The 39 points for the Fords are their fewest since being held to 33 in the second game of the season.  They entered the game averaging nearly 62 points per game.
• The Blue Jays have held the opposition under 50 points 12 times in 25 games and are allowing less than 51 points per game.
• Johns Hopkins never trailed in the game and led for the final 39:26 after an Oden three-pointer opened the scoring 34 seconds into the first quarter.
 
Up Next
• Johns Hopkins meets Gettysburg for the third time this season as the Blue Jays and Bullets will tangle in the Centennial Conference Semifinals.