The Muhlenberg women's basketball team rallied from a 13-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but Haverford pulled away late for a 52-44 win in an important Centennial Conference matchup.

The loss dropped the Mules (20-2, 15-2) into second place in the CC with three games remaining in the regular season. They can move back into a tie for first with a win at Gettysburg on Thursday. The Fords (18-4, 14-3), who won the CC regular-season title last year, are a game back in third place.

Muhlenberg trailed 36-23 midway through the third quarter of a game in which both teams struggled to score points. A layup by senior Christina Manning made it 36-25 with 4:26 left, and neither team scored for the rest of the quarter.

Back-to-back threes by junior Sara Dilly to open the fourth quarter started the Mules' comeback. Senior Rachel Plotke hit a three to make it 38-34, and two straight baskets by senior Chelsea Gary - the second off an offensive rebound - tied the score at 38-all with 6:12 to play.

The Mules managed only three field goals the rest of the game, however, and Haverford made seven free throws in the final minute to put the game away.

Gary finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Junior Carley Hamilton tied her career high with 12 points and pulled down seven boards. Dilly (pictured above) scored a season-high nine points.

Muhlenberg held Haverford to 30.9-percent shooting and allowed only 10 field goals in the final three quarters.