ANNVILLE, Pa. – A slow start left the Ursinus College women's basketball team playing catch-up all afternoon on the way to a 69-47 loss to host Lebanon Valley in the opener of the Rinso Marquette Tournament on Saturday evening.
Sophomore Lydia Konstanzer matched the game high with 16 points and added seven rebounds, but was the only player in double figures as the Bears (1-1) suffered their first defeat of the season. Ursinus will meet Eastern in the consolation game at noon Sunday.
Ursinus turned it over on its first two possessions and found itself in an 11-0 hole less than three minutes into the first quarter. Strong defensive play enabled the Bears to hang around for much of the first half until the Dutchmen (2-0) reeled off a 12-3 run to close the second quarter and take a 31-13 advantage into intermission.
The Bears, who were just 5 for 25 (20.0 percent) from the field in the first half, were unable to get any closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Emily Mealey led four Dutchmen in double digits with 16 points, with Becky Evans adding 15 and Morgan Bamberger and Caroline Scarff chipping in 11 apiece.
Lebanon Valley shot just 38.7 percent from the field and made 4 of 22 from 3-point range (22.2 percent), but grabbed 21 offensive rebounds that led to 20 second-chance points. The Dutchmen owned a 48-34 advantage on the glass and a 38-20 edge in points in the paint.
Sophomore Kaci McNeave went 3 for 4 from the field, sinking a pair of 3-point field goals, to give the Bears eight points. Senior captain Rachel Guy stuffed the stat sheet with five points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Freshman Maya Kornfeld scored five points, and senior Liana Weishaar also recorded her first collegiate points on a bucket with 4:09 to play.
Sophomore Toni Suler blocked six shots, including the 100th of her career. She is the fourth player in program history to reach that milestone.