LANCASTER, Pa. – The Owls basketball squad was back on the road earlier Saturday, as the team traveled over to the middle of the state to take on Franklin & Marshall. It was another positive performance for Bryn Mawr, as the squad improved on their performance against the Diplomats from earlier this season. Jessica Smith led the way once again for the Owls, as the first-year guard put up a sparkling 19-point performance on the day to lead all scorers. Fellow first-year Hannah Binder cracked double-digits as well, chipping in with another 10 points. That duo combined for most of the Owls' offensive output on the day, as Franklin & Marshall would claim a 69-36 victory in the end. Natalie Kolb led the hosts with 13 points, while Kenna Williams grabbed 11 boards to lead all players in that category.

Franklin & Marshall went up big early, as the Owls spotted the Diplomats ten points in the opening 4:30 of play. Smith finally got Bryn Mawr going with a jumper, and that helped Bryn Mawr settle in on the defensive side of the ball. The Owls allowed just four more points in the rest of the quarter, and with two more points from Smith, Bryn Mawr closed the frame still trailing by just ten.

In the second quarter, Bryn Mawr's offense continued to come in spurts. Smith and Binder knocked down back-to-back shots a few minutes into the frame, but then the Diplomats went on an 8-1 run over the next five minutes of play. Bianca Carrizal put a stop to that with her first career basket, and then after a defensive stop, Smith scored again to get the Owls back within 15. Binder would make one more layup out of a timeout, but Franklin & Marshall knocked down a three-pointer on their final possession of the half to take a 37-15 lead at the break.

The Owls put up their highest offensive output of the contest in the third quarter, with Sonja Meijer getting things started on a jumper off an assist from Sydney Collins. Smith and Binder each converted jumpers of their own, and then Binder knocked down a pair of free throws after a strong drive to the basket. Binder continued her hot streak a couple possessions later, pouring in yet another basket to give the first-year forward six straight points. Smith would then hit two free throws of her own to cap off the scoring in the quarter for the Owls.

Bryn Mawr's defense once again stepped up in the final quarter, holding the Diplomats to just nine points in the frame on 3-for-15 shooting. On offense, Smith canned a three-pointer to open the scoring for the Owls, and then Collins split a pair of free throws on Bryn Mawr's next possession. Later on, Collins put home a layup on a nice inside move, and then Smith drilled another deep three-ball midway through the frame. However, the well would dry up from there, as Bryn Mawr was held scoreless over the final 5:49 to close the game, sealing the 69-36 win for the Diplomats.

Bryn Mawr will continue their run of every-other-day games when they get back in action on Monday at Gettysburg. The Owls will then kick off a four-game homestand on Wednesday when they return home to face off against Haverford. Both of those games next week are set for 7:00 PM.