CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Franklin women's basketball team notched their season-high fourth straight win on Wednesday (Feb. 19) night, downing the Mount St. Joseph Lions 59-44 in what was their final road game of the regular season.

The Grizzlies (15-8, 11-6 HCAC) got double-doubles from forwards Bayleigh Walker (12 pts, 11 reb) and Destinee Cross (11 pts, 11 reb), marking the first time this year two players recorded double doubles in the same game. But the story of the night was the Franklin defense, as they held the Lions (7-17, 6-11 HCAC) to 26.8% (15-for-56) from the floor, avenging a loss to The Mount from earlier this season.

The opening period produced the most offensive fireworks of the night, with both teams shooting 50% from the field through 10 minutes of play. A 7-0 run midway through the period spotted Franklin a 12-5 lead before eight straight Lion points swung momentum in the hosts' favor. The Lions held a 20-17 lead after one quarter, closing out the period with five straight points.

The teams traded the lead twice in the opening three minutes of the second quarter, with the Lions taking a 25-23 lead with 7:06 to go in the half following a Carlee Daulton three. That ended up being the final field goal of the first half for the Lions, as Franklin held the hosts scoreless for the rest of the half, forcing eight missed shots and six turnovers to take a 35-25 lead into the intermission.

Both defenses controlled the play coming out of the half and with three minutes to go in the period, the Lions cut the deficit to 37-33 after a Maddie Haberthy layup. But Franklin answered on their next trip down the floor, with Cassidy Yant burying a three to break a near-six minute scoring drought. Taylor McDaniel knocked down a buzzer-beating triple to send the Grizzlies into the final period with a 45-38 advantage.

The fourth quarter was all Grizzlies, with the Franklin defense surrendering just two field goals over the final 10 minutes of play. Cross put Franklin in front by double digits with a three-point play that made it 52-41 with 7:26 to play and the Grizzlies never looked back.

Ashlin Aycock had nine points and Yant matched a season-high with eight points, sparking a group of Franklin reserves that out-score the MSJ bench 23-11. The Grizzlies dominated the game on the glass, setting a season-high with 52 rebounds to 32 for the Lions.

The Grizzlies close out the regular season on Saturday (Feb. 22) afternoon, when they host the Defiance Yellow Jackets on Senior Day in the Spurlock Center. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.