The Muhlenberg women's basketball team jumped out to a commanding lead and junior guard Brandi Vallely poured in a game-high 23 points in defeating Johns Hopkins 86-72.
 
With the win, Muhlenberg recaptured the lead for most Centennial Conference wins (299), one more than the Blue Jays. Muhlenberg has won five straight against Johns Hopkins and was victorious in 19 of the last 27 meetings.
 
The Mules (5-2, 3-1 CC) scored 11 straight points to take a double-digit advantage they maintained through most of the game. Vallely made 10 of 12 shots from the field and one free throw to achieve her point total. She also led the team with eight assists and four steals while pulling down seven rebounds.

Junior center Chelsea Gary and junior guard Christina Manning also scored in double figures for Muhlenberg. Gary (pictured above) totaled 15 points to go with six rebounds, two assists and a block. Manning finished with 14 points and four assists, making four of seven three-point tries.
 
Tied at 5-5, a layup from senior forward Maggie Zerbe and two threes from Manning gave Muhlenberg a 13-5 advantage. Sophomore guard Sara Dilly also made a three-pointer to cap the 11-0 run. The Mules would increase the lead to as many as 19 in the opening period.
 
The Blue Jays (3-4, 2-2 CC) rallied in the second period to trim the deficit to seven. Sophomore center Carley Hamilton converted an "and-one" in the next possession, making it 32-22 Mules. The teams then traded baskets as Muhlenberg went into halftime up 45-33.
 
Johns Hopkins trimmed the lead to single digits again midway through the third period, but Muhlenberg responded with a Vallely jumper to make it 57-46. Muhlenberg then kept its double-digit lead the rest of the way. Another Vallely jumper started a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach.
 
Muhlenberg shot 46.2 percent from the floor and held Johns Hopkins to a 36.1 percent clip. The Mules made eight of their 16 threes as a team and outrebounded the Blue Jays 45-37 for the game. Muhlenberg also won the turnover battle 16-13 and matched its season high with 25 assists.
 
Zerbe led Muhlenberg with eight rebounds, adding six points and two assists as well.