(Lancaster, Pa.) – The Dickinson women's basketball team jumped out to big lead and held off a furious rally for a 47-40 win, on the road at Franklin & Marshall on Wednesday night.

The Red Devils used a strong defensive effort in the first half to hold the Diplomats to just 15 points.

Dickinson took a 5-3 lead on a Sarah Phillips (West Amwell, N.J./South Hunterdon) three-pointer at the 16:46 mark.

The Devils stretched the lead to 9-3, midway through the first half. The Diplomats closed within two before a 12-4 run put Dickinson in front, 23-11. They went into halftime with a 27-15 advantage.

Sam Kennedy (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) scored to open the half, putting the Devils up, 29-17. First-year Erica Buls (New Market, Md./Oakdale) hit four free throws make the score, 33-19.

Junior Liz Schultz (Dunmore, Pa./Scranton Prep) knocked-down a three-pointer for a 36-21 lead, with 15:05 remaining in the game. The Diplomats scored twice before Kennedy answered at the 12:33 mark. She buried a three-pointer, a minute later to stretch the margin to 41-25.

Schultz gave Dickinson its biggest lead of the night with a pair of free throws, with just under 10 minutes to play.

F&M put together a run of its own, cutting the deficit to 43-33, with 4:33 remaining. Kristina McCarthy scored again, a minute later to pull the hosts within eight. Hannah Rose Nussbaum tallied the assist and converted a pair of free throws at the 2:31 mark, making the score, 43-37.

Rachel Sisco (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) came up with a big steal, and Buls drained a pair of free throws to give Dickinson a 45-37 lead, with 1:10 on the clock. Buls blocked a shot on the other end and Kelsey Walsh (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) controlled the rebound.

After a Devil miss, McCarthy hit a free throw before Schultz answered with two on the other end. Nussbaum scored with 10 seconds remaining for the final of 47-40.

Buls led the way with a game-high 12 points and nine rebounds. She was a perfect, 8-for-8, from the free throw line and blocked four shots on the night.

Schultz finished with nine points, going 4-for-4 from the line and controlling five rebounds. Kennedy scored nine points as well and made three steals. Mary Martin (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) and Phillips each tallied six points while Martin added three steals.

Sarah Hadden led the Diplomats (3-13, 1-8 CC) with 11 points and 12 rebounds. McCarthy grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds for F&M.

The Red Devils improve to 4-11 overall and 1-9 in the Centennial Conference. They travel to Swarthmore College on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

Watch Red Devils Sports Network highlights and an interview with RDSN Player of the Game Mary Martin.