BRYN MAWR, Pa. – The Bryn Mawr Basketball program returned to their home court on Saturday afternoon to compete in their third game of the week against the Diplomats of Franklin & Marshall. Diplomats Natalie Kolb led in points scored (15) while Owls Hannah Binder finished with team highs of nine points and nine rebounds. Bryn Mawr put up one of their strongest efforts of the season in an evenly matched game, but it was not enough to overcome Franklin & Marshall (56-34).

The Diplomats were quick out of the gate to take a 5-0 lead in the opening minute. The Owls' offense would go on to a six-point run with jump shots from Sena Kaper-Dale and Ella Kotsen. Franklin & Marshall rallied back and took the first quarter 14-7 with a seven-point lead.

Owls Hannah Binder and Kris Pasia were the highlights of the second quarter, adding 14 points to Bryn Mawr's score. Down 17-9, Binder sprinted into the paint to attempt a fade-away shot, but to no avail. Teammate Kaper-Dale rebounded the shot and immediately passed back to Binder who then returned for a made layup to minimize Franklin & Marshall to a six-point lead.

Franklin & Marshall would extend their lead to 27-15 before Owls' head coach Carla Coleman called for a timeout. This proved to be exactly what Bryn Mawr needed. Upon returning from their timeout, senior Sydney Collins rebounded a missed Diplomats' shot. Collins passed to first-year Hannah Govert who then took it down the length of the court and passed to Hannah Binder standing in the paint. Turning to see an open Kris Pasia behind the arc, Pasia attempted and made the Owls' first three-pointer of the game. To the home crowd's excitement, Pasia returned to the basket less than a minute later to sink another three-pointer (27-21)!

After a lowing scoring third quarter from both teams (38-24), Bryn Mawr put up a strong effort to make a comeback in the fourth quarter. Though slow to add points in the first minutes, Govert finally energized the Owls with two made free throws.

In the last minute of the game, Bryn Mawr left nothing behind. After a steal from each team, Aliya Stubenbord made her way into the paint, but could not manage a made basket. Diplomats Molly Flanagan rebounded and passed to teammate Leila Walton, but a travel was called on Walton and Bryn Mawr regained possession under the basket. Stubenbord took possession and passed to Binder. Not seeing an opening, she turned around to Ella Kotsen who was standing behind the arc. As Walton made an attempt to block Kotsen, the senior outmaneuvered her blocker to make a three-pointer.

As her team counted down from four seconds, Stubenbord took one last shot for Bryn Mawr. Finding the basket, the Owls kept the Diplomats to a 56-34 lead for Bryn Mawr's highest scoring game of the week and closest loss since early January against Washington College.

Coach Coleman stated her pride in her players' efforts: "Sydney had a monster game, she controlled the defensive boards which limited [Franklin & Marshall's] second chance points. Everyone played so hard. Very proud of them today."

The Owls will take a quick drive over to Haverford on Wednesday for an evening game.