Despite having seven games left on their schedule, the Lady Jays basketball team (9-10, 7-5) knew that Tuesday's game against Dickinson (10-9, 7-5) could be the most important game they play this season. Battling it out with the Red Devils for fifth place in the Centennial Conference, where the top five teams make the conference playoffs, every possession mattered, every mistake was magnified. An 11-point loss to Dickinson earlier this season served to heighten the pressure even more.
But by playing a team game (Hopkins dished out assists on 15 of 26 field goals) and shooting nearly perfectly from the free throw line, the Jays pulled out a close 72-67 victory at Goldfarb Gymnasium.
Hopkins started off the scoring with four quick points from junior Anastasia Wynn. Dickinson, led by the Centennial Conference's fifth leading scorer Brooke Muller, would keep the game close throughout the first half, but the Red Devils never managed to gain the lead from the Lady Jays. Despite some sloppy ball handling by Hopkins, including 14 first half turnovers, Hopkins shot better than 50 percent from the field (13 for 24 FG) and converted on all 10 free throw attempts.
The Jays extended their lead to as much as nine in the first half after a jumper by Wynn and two free throws by freshman Stephanie Fong, but two Red Devil free throws followed by a three pointer dropped the lead down to four at halftime, as the Jays went into the locker room up 37-33. Sophomore Lyndsay Burton, the team's leading scorer and last week's News-Letter Athlete of the Week, chipped in 10 first half points to go along with four rebounds and two steals.
Hopkins continued to let its lead erode as the second half began, allowing Dickinson to score the first four points of the half to equal the score for the first time. The Red Devils would take the lead shortly after on a jumper by Muller with 17:23 left in the half. Dickinson would not relinquish the lead for 12 more minutes, but the Jays never let the Red Devils' lead extend to more than five point, as 10 points from sophomore Siobhan Callanan during the 12-minute stretch kept the Jays within striking distance.
Despite taking a one-point lead on a three pointer from junior Katie Biggart with 5:58 remaining, Muller then caught fire for Dickinson, scoring six points of her 21 second-half points in less than a minute to bring the Jays deficit back up to five. But the Jays were not to give up easily, as Burton answered with six points of her own to give the Jays back the lead at 68-67 with 1:45 remaining.
After a Dickinson turnover and a missed shot on the Jays end, Dickinson had the ball with 24 seconds remaining, still down by one point. But Muller had the ball knocked away into the hands of senior Kristen Phillips, who was immediately fouled. Phillips missed the free throw, and Dickinson went coast to coast to try for a layup, but a great defensive play by Wynn prevented the shot from going anywhere near the basket. Phillips grabbed the rebound and was fouled, sinking both free throws to make it a three point game. Dickinson then tried to call a time-out but had no time-outs left to take, and Hopkins was awarded two technical free throws. Senior Caitlin Sloane nailed both technical free throws to seal the win for Hopkins.
Burton led the Jays in both scoring and rebounding, recording 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Wynn chipped in 12 points and Callanan had 10 points on 5-7 FG. Phillips contributed nine rebounds to go along with eight points, all from the free throw line. Muller had a career high 28 for the Red Devils.
The Lady Jays continue their conference schedule today at 7 p.m. as they take on second place Franklin & Marshall.
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