ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Alexandra Chili recorded
a game-high 24 points to lead No. 22 Muhlenberg to a 77-55 victory
over McDaniel in Centennial Conference (CC) women's
basketball action on Saturday.
The Mules (16-3, 13-0 CC), who also got 17 points from
Sheila Cook and 12 points from Lauren
Boyle, remained perfect in conference play and moved
within a game of clinching at least a share of the regular-season
title.
Ali Moreland (Davidsonville, Md./South River) led
the Green Terror (10-8, 8-5 CC) with 14 points and six
rebounds.
Behind back-to-back jumpers from Boyle, Muhlenberg opened up a 4-0
lead in the game's first 1:29.
A Sally Grace (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales
Academy) 3-pointer in the left corner with 17:13 remaining
in the first half knotted the game at 7-all but the Mules responded
with a 16-6 run over the next five-and-a-half minutes to take a
double-digit advantage for the first time.
Chili connected on 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to key the
burst.
McDaniel closed to within five twice, including 30-25 with 3:14 on
the clock but Muhlenberg netted the game's next eight points
to stretch the lead to its largest point at 38-25.
Morelandhit an 18-footer in the final 13 seconds to make it a 38-27
game at the intermission.
Out of the break, the Mules tallied 17 of the half's first 18
points to swell the lead to 27 just 4:34 into the
stanza.
A Kelly McKeon 3-pointer pushed the lead to as
many as 29 at 60-31 with 13:21 to play.
Cook and McKeon added eight rebounds apiece for
Muhlenberg.
Since the CC went to one division in 2003-04, it marks the third
time the Mules have swept the Green Terror, also accomplishing the
feat in 2005-06 and 2007-08 – both championship seasons for
the Muhlenberg.
McDaniel also got six points and six rebounds from Ashley
Lyles (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti). Kim
Staub (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) and Catherine
Mills (Ijamsville, Md./Urbana) added six points
apiece.
For the Green Terror, the 22 points was the largest margin of
defeat since an 82-58 loss in the 2003 CC championship game at
Johns Hopkins. The margin was also the Mules' largest in the
series since an 85-62 win on Feb. 1, 1997.
McDaniel returns to action at Franklin & Marshall on Tuesday.
Game time is 7 p.m.
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