PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Makiah Shaw and Brenna Ortwein combined to go 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the game's final minute as the Marauders outlasted the Jefferson Rams 58–51 on Herb Magee Court Friday evening. The visitors gained the lead on Rhyan Mitchell's turnaround layup with 2:36 to go and didn't relinquish it for the rest of the game because of the team's execution on both ends of the floor down the stretch.
 
"We locked in," Marauders head coach Kira Mowen said of the team's defensive execution in the second half.  "Obviously, our offense was a little bit off.  However, we only gave up 19 points in the second half, and when you do that, then you can actually find a little bit of an offensive rhythm. Good things happen. I was extremely proud of the defensive effort."
 
Shaw was the first to go to the line, doing so up 52–51 with 54 seconds to go. The 87.5% free throw shooter promptly knocked both down to secure her team-high 13th point and extend the Marauder advantage to three. A moving screen was called on the ensuing Jefferson possession, and Ortwein was fouled out of the stoppage to have her crack at making it a two-possession game.
 
Ortwein, a much-improved marksman from the stripe over last season (59% to 72.5%) delivered. She also stole the ball on the Ram's next possession to essentially ice the Marauder victory, a play that Mowen called 'great' postgame.
 
The whistle going Millersville's way in the final period was not indicative of the previous 30 minutes; the 'Ville's first free-throw came with 7:32 to go in the game. Despite that, fouls were nearly even for the game as both teams played a physical brand of basketball and whistles remained mostly silent. That favored the Marauders, who held the Rams to just 33.3% from the field; it's the fifth straight contest that Millersville's kept the opposition below 34%.
 
The victory over a team that ranked 21^st in the nation just last week puts the progression the Millersville women's basketball program has made since this time last year into perspective. On Dec. 4, 2023, the Marauders lost by 25 to these same Rams–that's a difference that was not lost on the Marauders' head coach as she reflected postgame.
 
"I think it's everything that Millersville fans have wanted for a while," Mowen said.  "We're sticking together. We're building a family and a culture here that can pull out road games like that. I'm glad that our girls made the change of mindset this year going into it, but nothing but kudos to the team for doing what they needed to do from a defensive standpoint and getting the job done on the road."
 
The contest was a tight affair throughout, as the largest lead for either team before the final minute was the five-point advantage Millersville had in the first quarter. After a blistering first period that resulted in a 20–18 Jefferson lead after the first, the Marauders won the final 30 minutes 40-31. A third quarter that saw the Rams held to just 18.2% from the field gave Millersville the upper hand and a 10-turnover fourth for the hosts sealed the Marauder victory.
 
Millersville's offensive effort was spread up and down the lineup, as all seven players who took a shot had more than six points. Bryn Zentner was the only other Marauder in double figures with 10 points, and the freshman added a career and game-high three steals as well.

The Marauders return to the 'Ville to take on the Georgian Court Lions on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m.