The Muhlenberg women's basketball team erased a 12-point deficit in the second quarter and played near-historic defense in the third quarter, but Swarthmore took over in the final period to pull out a 56-52 win.

The Mules (7-7, 2-2) scored the first four points of the game but trailed 16-4 late in the first quarter before a putback by sophomore Caitlyn D'Addieco ended the Garnet run.

Muhlenberg opened the second quarter on a 16-4 run, taking a 22-20 lead on a layup by senior Mia Fitzgerald, but Swarthmore rebounded to open up a 30-25 lead at the break.

The Garnet (4-9, 1-4) stayed stuck on 30 points for most of the third quarter. Swarthmore went 0-for-14 from the field in the period and did not score until making a pair of free throws with 1:24 left. Since the NCAA went to quarters for women's basketball 10 years ago, the Mules have allowed fewer than two points in a quarter only once, giving up just one in the first quarter of a 2022-23 game against Bryn Mawr.

Muhlenberg opened the final quarter with a 36-32 advantage and extended its lead to six on a layup by D'Addieco (pictured above) just 10 seconds in. The Mules experienced a scoring drought of their own, however, going almost six minutes before their next field goal while Swarthmore regained the lead with a 13-1 run.

The Mules trailed by seven before back-to-back threes by seniors Katie McGrath and Avery McNulty cut the gap to one, but Swarthmore held on for the win.

McGrath and freshman Linzy Roberson scored 11 points apiece for Muhlenberg. McGrath also dished out 6 assists. Sophomore Veronica Dawson finished with 9 points and blocked 3 shots.