Mahwah, NJ:  The Swarthmore College women's basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to battle back and defeat Ramapo College 67-64 today at the Bradley Center. Swarthmore improves to 6-2 overall while the Roadrunners now stand at 6-4 overall.
 
Ramapo jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter as Alie Wickersheim started the run with a jumper before Shannon Burns connected on a three-pointer for the nine point lead with 5:26 left on the clock. Ramapo ended the quarter on an 13-8 run where Wickersheim led the way with seven points and Reilly Sheeley posted four to take a 22-8 lead into the second quarter. Swarthmore outscored Ramapo in the second quarter 18-9 as Ramapo held onto a 31-26 lead at halftime.
 
The two teams traded baskets to start the third quarter before Ramapo went on a mini 7-1 run. Burns and Jada Thompson posted back-to-back baskets before Olivia Johnstone sank a three-pointer for a 40-29 lead with just under seven minutes left on the clock. Swarthmore cut the lead to five with a mini 6-0 run before Johnstone sank another three-pointer to start a 7-0 run capped off by a jumper from Wickersheim, 47-35 with 2:01 on the clock. Swarthmore began their comeback in the third as they scored the final five points of the quarter, shrinking the lead to seven heading into the fourth quarter. Swarthmore went on an 11-3 run to start the fourth to take a one point lead, 51-50, when Dana Bandurick converted an and-one play with 6:44 left on the clock. Wickersheim sank a pair of free throws before Bandurick started another 11-3 run over the next 4:20 of the game to take a 62-55 lead with 1:57 left to play. A mini 6-2 run from the Roadrunners shrunk the lead to 61-64 with under a minute to play before Bandurick converted on a pair of free throws. The Roadrunners called timeout to advance the ball up the court before Lindsey Ross sank a big three-pointer with five seconds left to come within two, 64-66. Alyssa Hayashi scored one of two free throws setting up a potential game-tying three-pointer for the Roadrunners. Ramapo was able to get a three-point shot off that went in, but it was called off as it was after the buzzer sounded.
 
Swarthmore was led by Bandurick who posted a game high 24 points and 16 rebounds while Hayashi added 18 points and seven rebounds. The team shot 47% (25-53) from the field, 78% (15-19) from the free throw line and 25% (2-8) from the three-point line.
 
Ramapo had three players score in double figures as Wickersheim led the way with 15 rebounds. Johnstone tallied 14 points including four three-pointers while Burns tacked on 13 points and five rebounds. Thompson contributed with seven points and a team high eight rebounds. The Roadrunners shot 37% (22-59) from the field, 38% (7-18) from the three-point line and 56% (13-23) from the free throw line in the game. The Ramapo defense forced 19 turnovers which led to 12 points for the Roadrunners.
 
Ramapo returns to action on Wednesday, January 5th when they host NJAC rival the College of New Jersey at the Bradley Center at 5:30pm.