WOMEN’S BASKETBALL’S STREAK ENDS AT 28

Just when it looked like the Muhlenberg women’s basketball team had won a one-point game against McDaniel for the fifth straight time, it hadn’t.

In addition to her out-of-bounds save, Clawson sank two clutch free throws with 28.4 seconds left in overtime to bring the Mules to within one. She is a perfect 13-for-13 from the line this season.

Junior Kelly McKeon completed a remarkable three-point play with 7.5 seconds remaining in overtime to put the Mules up one, but McDaniel converted the tying and go-ahead free throws with 2.5 seconds left to win, 72-71.

The loss snapped Muhlenberg’s 28-game winning streak against Centennial Conference opponents and knocked it out of at least a share of first place for the first time since 2007-08. But the Mules (8-2, 6-1), who climbed to ninth in Division III in the D3hoops.com poll earlier in the day, won’t have to wait long to change that; they travel to unbeaten and 21st-ranked Gettysburg (13-0, 8-0) on Thursday night with a chance at a virtual tie for first.

Men Fall in First Big Test The Muhlenberg men’s basketball team suffered its first Centennial Conference loss of the season, falling to No. 11 Franklin & Marshall, 80-58. The loss dropped the Mules (7-5, 5-1) into a three-way tie for first place in the CC with Franklin & Marshall (11-2, 5-1) and Gettysburg (7-5, 5-1). Muhlenberg will have a chance to at least bring the tie down to two teams when it travels to Gettysburg on Thursday. F&M led the whole way in this game, entering halftime leading by 14. The Diplomats’ lead swelled to as high as 26 in the second half. Senior Peter Barnes led the Mules with 17 points on 8-for-11 shooting and also pulled down seven rebounds. Click here for box score. Click here for complete stats.

The game also continued the trend of tight battles between these teams after a brief three-game hiatus. It was the seventh time in the last eight seasons Muhlenberg and McDaniel have played a one-point contest, and the fifth meeting that went to overtime.

McDaniel (8-4, 7-2) nearly stopped the Mules on their final possession, but freshman Kate Clawson made a fantastic save on a jumper headed out of bounds to give Muhlenberg another chance while trailing 70-68.

Sophomore Alexandra Chili found McKeon streaking down the lane, and as McKeon went up for a left-handed layup, she was hit hard, but still banked in the bucket, tying the game with a chance to take the lead.

After a McDaniel timeout, McKeon calmly sank the free throw, putting the Mules ahead, 71-70. But a foul call with 2.5 seconds on the clock sent the Green Terror’s leading scorer to the line with a chance to give it the lead. She hit both free throws, and McKeon’s desperation heave as time expired was off the mark.

McKeon was nearly the hero at the end of regulation, as well. With the score tied, 56-56, with 1:10 to play, she found a wide-open lane to the basket and drew a foul. She sank both free throws to give the Mules the lead, but after both squads traded turnovers, McDaniel hit a jumper with 1.4 seconds to play to send the game to overtime.

McKeon and Chili both posted double-doubles. McKeon had 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and Chili scored 14 points, pulled down a career-high 10 boards and had a game-best seven assists. Junior Sheila Cook poured in a game-high 21 points.
Click here for box score.
Click here for complete stats.