12/14/24
 
CARNEYS POINT, NJ – Lackawanna College women's basketball survived a furious rally in the fourth quarter to knock off Salem Community College, 73-70, on Saturday afternoon inside the DuPont Fieldhouse at Salem in Region XIX Division II women's basketball action.
 
The Falcons (9-4, 6-2) led by 15 at halftime and held a 16-point advantage with seven minutes to go, but the Mighty Oaks (4-6, 1-5) used 12-0 run over five minutes of game time to close the gap to 64-60 with two minutes to go. Salote Franklin (Philadelphia, PA) scored a pair of free throws to break the scoreless streak and give the Falcons the six-point lead, but Salem immediately scored a lay-up to bring it back to four.
 
Two Falcons turnovers resulted in empty possessions for Salem, but a third turnover turned into a lay-up with 47 seconds left, making it just 66-64, Lackawanna. Franklin made a pair of free throws to boost it back to a four-point lead, and the Falcons went 1-for-2 on another trip that made it 69-64 with 22 seconds remaining. A three-pointer with nine seconds left closed the gap to 69-67. Desiree White (Carlisle, PA) hit two more free throws to make it 71-67, but another three, this time with seven seconds left, had Salem within one point at 71-70. Franklin finished the game with a pair of free throws with two seconds left, and the Falcons forced a turnover on the next possession to escape with the win.
 
Franklin had 28 points and a season-high 23 rebounds in the victory, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. The Falcons shot 30.4% from the floor and were just 5-for-29 from deep, but made 26-of-35 free throws, making more than Salem even attempted (3). Jayla South (Long Pond, PA) scored ten points, while Diamond Wilson (Baltimore, MD) came off the bench to score seven points. Salem had five players in double-figures and was led by Nyaijah Jackson's 18 points off the bench.
 
The Falcons finish the fall semester at 9-4 overall and 6-2 in Region XIX DII play. They return to action after the new year on January 11^th, 2025, when Lackawanna travels to Herkimer, NY to take on nationally ranked Division III opponent Herkimer County CC. Tip is set for 1:00pm ET.