COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. - The Haverford College women's basketball team (10-5, 8-3 CC) took a trip to Collegeville to take on Ursinus (5-8, 2-6 CC) Thursday evening, falling to the hosts 56-47. With the loss, Haverford is now tied for second place in the conference as the Fords begin the latter part of their conference schedule. Kayla Robinson led Haverford with 14 points while Ally Landau was the only other Ford with double-digits with ten points. Erin Albright scored six while Eleanor Alix scored six.
Coming into the game, the matchup between Robinson and Ursinus' Chinwe Irondi was the one to watch. In the first quarter, it lived up to the hype. Robinson scored the first basket of the game and it was immediately answered by Irondi. Ursinus finished the first quarter with a 16-13 lead while Robinson and Irondi were the top two scores at four and five points, respectively. The Fords kept it close despite Ursinus's hot start. The hosts shot 58.3 percent rom the field compared to Haverford's 37.5 percent, but only held a three-point lead.
The Bears took a 27-22 lead into halftime as the Fords couldn't make Ursinus pay on the offensive end. Ursinus played just about as well as they could in the first half at home. The hosts looked comfortable and shot 52 percent in the first 20 minutes. Aside from the scoreline, the game was about as even as it could be in every category. The execution would certainly have to be the talking point for Haverford in the locker room. The Fords got good looks, they just had to find a way to knock them down more consistently.
The battle between Robinson and Irondi was also even as the forwards were tied for a game-high nine points at halftime. Irondi had nine rebounds to Robinson's five. The game had all the makings of a showdown between key players as whoever could have more of an impact would lead their team to victory.
It took a while for Haverford to regain the lead in the third quarter. The Fords eventually regained the lead after an Ally Landau layup that came with two minutes left to give her ten points on the night. In the following possession, Robinson knocked down a mid-range jumper for her 12th point, to give the Fords a 35-32 lead. Haverford would take that lead into the final quarter as they held Ursinus to just five points. Ursinus, after shooting over 50 percent in the first half, was held to 15.4 percent in the third quarter. That defensive pressure in the third proved to be all the difference as the Fords took advantage by knocking down timely baskets and making free throws.
Ursinus took the lead early in the fourth quarter. Within the first three minutes, Haverford was facing a three-point deficit after a tidy 8-2 run from the Bears. After that, it seemed like the Fords struggled to get over the hump as the Ursinus lead remained at one for most of the quarter. Alix hit a pair of threes to give Haverford a fighting chance, but the Bears' late-game execution was too much for Haverford to handle. Eventually, the Bears held off Haverford after Landau missed a potential game-tying three in the game's final minute.
Haverford was outrebounded 38-31 despite winning the turnover battle. The Bears' third quarter was the only blemish as they finished the fourth quarter shooting 55.6 percent from the field and went 13-13 from the free throw line.
Haverford will now have to forget this one quickly as they take on the conference leaders in Dickinson at home on Saturday, January 14. The game could have major implications on playoff seeding as both teams have eyes for the top spot. The game is set to tip-off inside Gooding '84 arena at 1 p.m.