COLLEGEVILLE, PA. - The Ursinus College women's basketball team traveled to Chestertown, Maryland on Wednesday evening and lost a hard-fought battle against Centennial Conference foe Washington College 64-52. Washington College improved to 8-3 and 4-2 in conference play while Ursinus fell to 2-8 and 2-4 in the Centennial Conference.
In the first quarter, Alison Lisanti carried the Bears knocking down two three-pointers as both teams started cold from the field. Washington College took the lead after a three-pointer from Crystal Jones rattled in with 33 seconds remaining. Chinwe Irondi collected 6 rebounds and 2 points in the first, as the Bears trailed 11-10 after one.
The Bears would open the second quarter with a 5-0 run after Kelly Grant hit her first three-pointer of the contest and Irondi converted on an offensive rebound to give the Bears a 15-11 lead. With 7:21 remaining, Washington College answered back with a layup from Kiersten Rose. On the next possession, Irondi pulled down an offensive rebound and converted a layup to stretch the score to 17-14.
The Shorewomen scored seven straight points after a layup from Lizzie Hudock. Ursinus answered after Irondi made consecutive layups on back-to-back possessions to tie the score with 3:30 remaining in the first half. Ursinus trailed at halftime 25-22. Washington College held the advantage in 3PT% (30-20) as both teams shot 29.4% from the field. The Shorewomen outrebounded the Bears 29-16 and held the advantage in turnovers 8-7.
In the third quarter, Gabby Downs knocked down a jump shot and Lisanti recorded her third three-pointer of the night that tied the game at 27 with 8:45 remaining. Washington College scored seven straight points before Downs answered with a mid-range jump shot that rattled home. Both teams exchanged baskets before Kelly Grant swished in back-to-back three pointers to tie the game at 36 with three minutes left in the quarter. The Shorewomen answered with four straight points to end the third with a 40-36 lead.
Washington College started the fourth quarter with six straight points after Jones and Serena Pluta scored on back-to-back possessions. The Shorewomen stretched the lead to 10, the largest lead of the night before a Kelly Grant basket made the score 46-38 with 7:32 remaining. Lizzie Hudock converted a layup that made the sore 53-39 before Ursinus could answer with a turnaround jump shot from Downs. Washington College would outscore Ursinus 24-16 in the final stanza to capture their 8th win of the season.
Hudock led the Shorewomen with 15 points and 16 rebounds as Irondi led the Bears with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Kelly Grant and Gabby Downs both added 12 points and combined to make five three pointers for the Bears.
The Bears will return to action on Saturday as they host Salisbury inside Helfferich Hall starting at 1PM.