Box Score

Before tipoff in Muhlenberg women's basketball's game against Gettysburg, seniors Abby Stenger and Nicole Pepe were presented with the Aril Bryant Award for their dedication to helping their community. 

"It was a real honor for both me and Nicole. It gave us a good feeling going into the game," Stenger said.

Those good feelings must have prevailed after the ball was tossed; because when Stenger checked in the game with 11:34 to go in the first half, she did her best to help her fellow teammates get a crucial Centennial Conference victory over Gettysburg. The senior marksman hit three straight three-pointers to give the Mules a lead they would eventually use to secure a 68-53 victory.

 "It's always fun to come off the bench and hit a couple of big shots. I was glad I could help the team get going, and after that we all had a lot of energy and kept it up," Stenger said.

Stenger (pictured left) finished with nine as Muhlenberg's defense would take center stage in the second half, holding the Bullets to 25-percent shooting and just eight points over the first 14:11 of the second frame.

"I think our entire team was playing with a little bit extra today. We really wanted to come together. Gettysburg is always a big game for us and sometimes we come out flat, so everyone was pushing to have a lot of energy," Stenger said.

That energy led to a plus-nine rebounding differential for Muhlenberg and 19 turnovers for Gettysburg, a team that ended the Mules' season last year in a playoff game at Memorial Hall. The win improved Muhlenberg (14-6 overall) to 13-3 in the CC, two games behind McDaniel for the top spot.

Leanna Tallamy continued her historic run of excellent play, turning in a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double to lead both teams in both categories. All but four of her 21 came in the second half when Muhlenberg built a lead as big as 20. It was the 10^th straight game in which Tallamy led the Mules in scoring, tying the school record she set last year.

Laura Gregory added a career-high 16 points and eight rebounds, and Hannah Rush (pictured above) continued to take stellar care of the ball and her teammates, dishing out eight assists to just one turnover. 

A Stenger triple with 8:18 to go in the first half put the Mules up 10, and it was followed by a Michelle Poole layup to make it 23-11. From there the Bullets (14-6, 8-6 CC) scored 14 straight to take a 25-23 lead. Two Gregory scores gave Muhlenberg the lead back before the break, and some defensive adjustments at half made sure it stayed that way.

"We didn't change too much on defense, we just talked about what we needed to do. They were doing some things that we weren't adjusted to yet, and coach pointed those out. It always nice to take things told to us in the locker room and execute them on the court," Stenger said.

Muhlenberg shot 46.7 percent from the field in the second half against a Gettysburg team that came in leading Division III in field-goal percentage defense. The Bullets were allowing only 47.6 points per game, and the Mules were just the second team to make it into the 60s against them this season.

When shooters come in and get hot, life is usually pretty good for the Mules. Stenger understands her role and knows for the rest of the season, when she heads to the scorer's table that it's time to provide a spark and tickle the twine.

"It's going to be the same rotation next game, so hopefully I can come off the bench and knock down my shot. As a shooter you keep shooting , so once you see the first one go down, you just get confident and hopefully I can keep it rolling."