Kile Tallies 12 Points, 9 Boards, 4 Blocks for WC

CHESTERTOWN, MD – Megan Pauley made one of two free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining to give visiting Franklin & Marshall a come-from-behind 54-53 over host Washington College in the Centennial Conference women's basketball opener for both teams tonight at Cain Athletic Center. The Diplomats, who trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half, ended the game on a 12-2 run to improve to 3-0 overall. The Shorewomen fell to 0-3 with the loss.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as the Shorewomen shot just 5-of-21 from the floor, while the Diplomats were 8-for-28. Washington took a 24-18 lead in the break on the strength of a 16-of-21 performance from the free-throw line in the first half.  F&M was just 2-of-6 at the charity stripe in the period.

The Shorewomen's lead grew to 38-23 with 13:21 left on a pair of free throws and a pair of technical free throws by senior guard Jane O'Donnell (Cape May Court House, NJ/Wildwood Catholic). Washington held a 51-42 advantage with over five minutes to play, but went cold, committing 11 turnovers and missing its only three field goal attempts the rest of the way. F&M tied the score on a Pauley lay-up with 52 seconds to play, knotting the score at 51-51, and took a 51-53 lead on a pair of Pauley free throws with 31 seconds left. Washington freshman guard Maggie King (Kensington, MD/Bethesda-Chevy Chase) made two free throws with 15 seconds to go to even the score, but Pauley was fouled after a missed F&M shot with just over three seconds to play. Pauley made the first and missed the second. Washington turned the ball over before it was able to get off a final shot.

Pauley finished with a game-high 28 points for the Diplomats. Alexa Barbush and Beth Holt added eight points a piece, while Colleen Bott had a game-best 12 rebounds for F&M.

Jane O'Donnell led the Shorewomen with 14 points. Freshman center Erin Kile (Benton, PA/Benton) added 12 points, nine boards, and four blocks, while sophomore guard/forward Sally O'Donnell (Cape May Court House, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) tallied 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Senior forward Julie Sherwood (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Warde) led Washington in rebounds with 10.

F&M committed eight fewer turnovers in the game, committing 16 to Washington's 24.

The Shorewomen return to action Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. game at Richard Stockton.