The Muhlenberg women's basketball team flexed its defensive muscles for the second straight important road game, winning 53-42 at Johns Hopkins.

In the last four days, the Mules (9-9, 7-6) allowed a total of 82 points and a combined 26.9-percent shooting in wins at Dickinson and Johns Hopkins, two teams that started the week ahead of them in the Centennial Conference standings.

The two wins vaulted Muhlenberg into a virtual tie with Swarthmore for fourth place in the CC, a game ahead of Dickinson in the loss column and one game behind third-place Hopkins. The Mules travel to Swarthmore on Thursday.

Sophomore Margaux Eripret recorded her second career double-double with a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Amanda Gorski had the best game of her career, scoring a career-best 10 points in 19 minutes off the bench, while sophomore Mikaela McGarvey netted 11 points.

But the real story, again, was the defense, which held the Blue Jays (11-7, 8-5) to 27.6-percent shooting, including just 3-of-25 from three-point range.

The defense truly made its mark in the third quarter, which began with Muhlenberg leading, 28-23. It was 32-29 four minutes into the period, but the Mules thwarted the comeback effort by holding Hopkins scoreless for the next six minutes, closing the quarter on a 14-0 run.

Gorski (pictured above) scored six of her points in the run and also snagged an offensive rebound that led to a basket by McGarvey. A three by McGarvey in the closing seconds of the quarter gave Muhlenberg a 17-point lead.

The Blue Jays did not get closer than 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Eripret scored 10 points in the first quarter alone to lead the Mules to an early 18-8 lead.

SeniorEmily O'Mahoney finished with career highs of 8 rebounds (including 5 on the offensive glass) and 5 assists.