Stifling defense led the Muhlenberg women's basketball team to a key 55-47 home win against Swarthmore.

The Mules (10-9, 5-4) held the Garnet (5-13, 2-8) to four field goals and 11 points in the first half, taking a 13-point lead into the break. Swarthmore rallied to within five points late in the fourth quarter, but Muhlenberg held on to gain a season split. 

The win kept the Mules in possession of sixth place and the final playoff spot in the Centennial Conference with three weeks remaining in the regular season.

A trio of players - seniors Avery McNulty and Katie McGrath and sophomore Veronica Dawson - led Muhlenberg with 15 points apiece.

Dawson scored seven of her points in the first four minutes to provide the difference in a 9-2 opening spurt.

The Mules led 16-8 after one quarter. Swarthmore hit a baseline jumper to open the scoring in the second quarter but did not score another offensive point the rest of the period. Muhlenberg kept the Garnet from getting comfortable on offense at all, forcing four turnovers to go along with 10 straight missed field-goal attempts.

Muhlenberg managed only eight points itself in the second quarter and saw its lead dwindle to six after Swarthmore started finding its range in the third. But back-to-back three-pointers by McGrath (pictured above) and McNulty, both assisted by freshman Linzy Roberson, fueled an 8-0 run that brought the margin back to double digits.

The Mules took their biggest lead, at 43-27, on a three by McNulty, before a 13-2 run by Swarthmore cut the gap to five with just over two and a half minutes remaining.

McGrath scored eight points the rest of the way, however, going 6-for-6 from the line to clinch the win.

In addition to her 15 points and 8 rebounds, McNulty blocked 3 shots, becoming the first player in program history with at least 25 three-pointers (35) and 25 blocked shots (27) in the same season.

The win gave women's basketball double digits in victories for the 33rd consecutive season, extending its school record for all sports.