ITHACA, N.Y. -- Haverford claimed the first NCAA tournament victory in program history with a 53-48 win against Rhode Island in opening round play at Ithaca on Friday night.
The Fords (24-3) used a 15-2 run in a nine-minute span late in the second half to turn a five-point deficit (39-34) into an eight-point advantage (49-41) with 1:14 to go in the contest. Stephanie Prusko's 3-pointer at the one-minute mark ended Rhode Island's scoreless drought at seven minutes as the Centennial Conference champions turned up the pressure defensively.
Elizabeth Lynch's layup pushed Haverford ahead by one (40-39) with nine minutes remaining for the one and only lead change of the second half.
Jacquelyne Pizzuto and Nina Voith combined to go 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 34 seconds to seal the historic victory.
