Abernathy Named Centennial Conference Women's Basketball Co-Player of the Week

by Sports Information
2/5/02

LANCASTER, PA - Franklin & Marshall College center Amy Abernathy (So., Far Hills, NJ/American School Paris) and Muhlenberg College center Susan Marchiano have been named the Centennial Conference Women's Basketball Co-Players of the Week for the period of January 28th through February 2.

The pair led their teams to first place in their respective divisions as the Diplomats stunned Swarthmore College, 62-44, while Muhlenberg upset Johns Hopkins, 68-52.

Ironically, it marks the second time this year the pair has been honored by the Conference in the same week. The duo also notched Co-Players accolades back on November 19 when Abernathy led the Diplomats to the title of their own Tip-Off Tournament and Marchiano led the Mules to the championship of the Scotty Wood Tournament.

For the week, Abernathy averaged 19 points and 16 rebounds as F&M went 2-0, including a 70-55 win over Western Maryland in which Abernathy tallied 21 points and 15 rebounds.

She leads the Conference in rebounding with an average of 12.5 boards per game, 2.2 better than runner-up Jay Hodge of Gettysburg College. In scoring, Abernathy ranks fifth with 15.9 points per contest, 0.1 behind fourth place Megan Shelly of Dickinson (16.0) and just off the pace of third place teammate Amy Kreitz (Sr., Allentown, PA/Salisbury) with 18.6 ppg.

Abernathy leads the Conference in blocked shots with 50, an average of 2.63 per game, offensive (5.63) and defensive rebounds (6.89).

In field goal percentage, Marchiano and Abernathy rank second and third in the latest Conference statistics, as the Muhlenberg center is shooting 58.8 percent, while Abernathy is right behind at 54.3.

Through nineteen games, Abernathy has recorded 13 double-double performances against Waynesburg (23 points, 15 rebounds), Lycoming (21 points, 19 rebounds), Gwynedd Mercy (16 points, 13 rebounds), Western Maryland (16 points, 15 rebounds/21 points, 15 rebounds), Muhlenberg (16 points, 11 rebounds), Drew (12 points, 12 rebounds), Elizabethtown (19 points, 20 rebounds), Ursinus (10 points, 12 rebounds), Moravian (23 points, 10 rebounds), Dickinson (16 points, 13 rebounds), Johns Hopkins (20 points, 12 rebounds) and Swarthmore (17 points, 17 rebounds).

For her career, Abernathy now has 555 points, 459 rebounds and 89 blocked shots in 44 games.

With Muhlenberg's win over Hopkins, the Diplomats moved into first place in the Western Division courtesy head-to-head play versus the Blue Jays, as F&M defeated JHU 71-70 in the Mayser Center on January 23.

F&M, which improved to 15-4, 8-2 in the Centennial Conference, has not lost since a 82-69 defeat at Western Maryland on December 4 as the Diplomats have overcome a 3-4 start. Swarthmore, which falls to 16-5, slips to 9-2 in the Conference.

To date, F&M has not trailed in a game since 42 seconds into a 70-55 win over Western Maryland on January 30th as the Diplomats have led their opponents for over 79 minutes of play.

Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on February 6 at Gettysburg College, a team F&M defeated 76-66 in the Mayser Center. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.