WESTMINSTER, Md. – McDaniel opened up a 10-point lead after three quarters and held on for a 58-53 victory over Franklin & Marshall in Centennial Conference (CC) women's basketball action on Thursday.

Jasmine Smith (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) tallied a season-high 13 points for the Green Terror (6-1, 3-0 CC) while adding two assists, two steals and four rebounds. Lindsey Nichols (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) led the way in the scoring column with 17 points to go with three steals and two assists.

Sarah Haddon led the Diplomats (0-7, 0-3 CC) with 14 points and 13 rebounds. She was one of two players to reach double digits in points and three to pull down double-digit boards – part of a 60-31 advantage on the glass. Haddon had 11 of her rebounds on the offensive glass while Lindsey Powers had 10 of her 14 rebounds on the offensive end to key a 32-offensive rebound night.

After four ties and three lead changes in the first 6:08, Renie Tsomos (Forest Hill, Md./Bel Air) canned a triple with 3:30 to play in the first quarter to give the hosts the lead for good.

Sarah Haddon responded with a putback before Nichols and Amanda Wood (Ashburnham, Mass./Cushing Academy) each drained triples to key a 9-0 finish to the period.

Smith hit a runner in the lane as time expired to make it a 22-12 game.

The lead swelled as large as 11 in the second quarter.

Trailing 31-24 on a Wood 3-pointer with 2:56 to play, the Diplomats scored the final four points of the period to close the gap to 31-28 at the break.

The Green Terror pushed the lead back to 10 during the third quarter and took a 48-36 lead on a Smith 3-pointer with 7:10 to play in the fourth.

Still leading 54-44 on two Brittney Davis (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) free throws with 1:15 to play, Haley Pilone drained a 3-pointer with 1:03 on the clock.

After a delay to discuss the clock situation, McDaniel called a timeout to advance the ball into the front court.

Davis hit one of her two free throws with 53.1 seconds on the clock to push the lead back to eight and the defense held on to capture the five-point win.

McDaniel returns to action at home against Swarthmore on Saturday. Game time is 3 p.m.

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