Kreitz Scores 25 as Diplomats Roll 73-57 at Drew University in Women's Basketball

by Sports Information
1/4/02

MADISON, NJ -- Franklin & Marshall guard Amy Kreitz (Sr., Allentown, PA/Salisbury) knocked down 10-of-15 field goal attempts for a game high 25 points as the Diplomats (5-4, 1-2 Centennial Conference) downed host Drew University (5-4) in a non-conference matchup.

Overall, Kreitz would barely miss becoming the first player in F&M history to record a 30-point game since Tina Breithaupt accomplished the feat on February 13, 1994 in a game versus Dickinson College. Historically, there have been 11 30-point or better performances in the history of women's basketball at the College led by a 66-point performance by Laurie Baker from a February 28, 1978 game versus Wilson College.

However, Kreitz's tally of 25 would be enough to move her into sixth place all-time at the College in career scoring as she surpassed the tally of Wendy Stabolepszy '79 (1,270) as the senior guard now has 1,289 points. The figure places her just five points shy of shattering the fifth place mark of Breithaupt (1.293).

In the game, Kreitz connected on five-of-seven from the field for 13 points in the first half as the Diplomats ran out to a 34-27 lead at intermission. The F&M lead would grow to 21 in the opening minutes of the second half as the Diplomats rattled off a 14-0 run to start the half and held Drew scoreless until the 14:06 mark when Sarah Marquez hit a medium range jumper to pull the Bears within 19 at 48-29.

Across the court, fellow guard and team captain Lauren Howanski (Sr., Gap, PA/Pequea Valley) scored four points to raise her career scoring total to 1,006 points to move into tenth place all-time at the College in scoring, surpassing the previous mark of Chris Ditzler who tallied 1,005 points from 1986-1989.

In addition, center Amy Abernathy (So., Far Hills, NJ/American School-Paris) recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Through nine games, she has recorded double-doubles against Waynesburg (23 points, 15 rebounds), Lycoming (21 points, 19 rebounds), Gwynedd Mercy (16 points, 13 rebounds), Western Maryland College (16 points, 15 rebounds) and Drew.

The game would be a family affair for both teams as F&M forward Francesca DiFazio (Jr., Hampton, NJ/Pennington School) squared off with her sister, Drew freshman center Angela DiFazio for the first time in their collegiate careers. The elder DiFazio would get the better of the day as she drained four-of-five from the floor for 10 points and corralled seven defensive rebounds to her sister's five points and three boards.

For Drew, Catherine Seto registered 13 points; Jen Weldon tallied 12, while Marquez and Jennifer Shea connected for 10 as the Bears had four players register in double digits.

Franklin & Marshall will return to the court at the Mayser Center on January 7 versus county rival Elizabethtown College at 7:00 p.m. before beginning the second half of the Centennial Conference season at Ursinus College on January 9 in a 6:00 p.m. contest.