The Muhlenberg women's basketball team played outstanding second-half defense to erase a seven-point deficit and defeat Johns Hopkins, 64-59, in a key Centennial Conference game.

With the win, the 16th-ranked Mules (15-1, 10-1) remained in a tie for first place in the CC. A loss would have dropped them into a three-way tie for second with Haverford and Hopkins (9-7, 8-3).

Senior Chelsea Gary scored a game-high 19 points, while classmates Brandi Vallely and Rachel Plotke added 15 and 14, respectively. A fourth senior, Christina Manning, contributed eight points and six rebounds, and junior Carley Hamilton pulled down 10 of her game-high 14 rebounds in the second half.

The Blue Jays shot 55.6 percent from the field in the fast-paced first quarter, which ended with them holding a 24-21 lead. They scored the final six points of the first half to take a 39-32 lead into the locker room.

Muhlenberg held Hopkins to only seven field goals and 21.2-percent shooting in the final 20 minutes. The Mules allowed just three field goals in the final quarter and got three defensive stops in the last minute when the Blue Jays had a chance to tie or take the lead.

A fast-break layup by Gary off a pass from Vallely tied the game at 48 with less than a minute to play in the third, but Hopkins answered with a three-pointer to take a 51-48 edge into the fourth quarter.

Hamilton (pictured above) scored the first four points of the fourth to put Muhlenberg in front, 52-51, for the first time since the first half. A Blue Jay free throw tied the game back up, but the Mules followed with a 7-0 run to open their biggest lead. 

Plotke began the run by driving in for a layup, junior Sara Dilly hit a baseline jumper, and Vallely hit a three-pointer to make it 59-52 at the six-minute mark.

Back-to-back buckets by Hopkins closed the gap to 59-57, and it was 60-59 after the Blue Jays scored on a fast break with 1:35 to go. 

Gary was fouled on a defensive rebound and made one of two free throws with 35.6 seconds left. After Vallely stole the ball at the other end, Plotke made one free throw to make it 62-59 with 8.8 ticks showing. Muhlenberg forced a turnover at the other end, and Vallely salted the game away by hitting two free throws with 3.6 seconds to play.

With her seven assists, Vallely reached 600 for her career. Her 15 points left her with 995, and she should join the 1,000-point club when Muhlenberg hosts Ursinus on Tuesday. 
Prior to the game, junior Madison Mummey received the Aril Bryant Award for "service beyond self." The annual award is given in memory of the former Mule point guard who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and devoted considerable time and energy to supporting others with the disease and their families prior to passing away at age 30 in 2013. Mummey, seen above with Amanda Buss, a former Muhlenberg assistant coach and breast cancer survivor and Meg Malatack, a teammate and good friend of Bryant's, has volunteered with Special Olympics and Via of the Lehigh Valley since she was in high school. In her hometown, she is involved with the Palmerton Library Tutor Program and the St. John's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen.