COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's basketball team battled in a back-and-forth contest with Albright on Saturday, ultimately falling 65-59 in overtime.
Things looked to be going the Bears' way in the 5-minute overtime period as sophomore Lydia Konstanzer dropped in the first bucket of the extra frame before her classmate Toni Suler recorded a pair of blocks on the same defensive possession. However, six straight points from Albright's Devan Horka created a lead that the Bears (2-3) could not get over.
The Bears fought the Lions (1-2) – an NCAA Tournament team the last two seasons – overcoming an early deficit. Albright built a 10-point lead after the first quarter, 16-6, and maintained control into the second quarter. The Ursinus offense came alive shortly after, creating a 15-2 run in the final five minutes and change.
Sophomore Lydia Konstanzer and senior Rachel Guy scored six points in the second frame, including a 4-point play from Guy. The veteran sank a 3-pointer as she was fouled and made the ensuing free throw. She'd hit all five of her attempts from the charity stripe on the day. Konstanzer started the entire run on a steal that she took coast-to-coast for an easy lay-in and capped it with a bucket on a dish from Guy that made it 27-22 late in the second quarter.
Konstanzer wrapped up the contest with a game-high 26 points to go along with eight rebounds and four steals. Guy shot 3-of-8 from 3-point land, wrapping up the game with 14 points.
The two sides were deadlocked at 27 going into halftime, but the Lions came out firing in the second half before Ursinus got the offense going again. The Bears closed the quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 43-40. Konstanzer starred again in the outburst, recording six of the points, including a nifty euro-step move that led to a lay-up; she had 12 points in the frame alone.
Freshman Maya Kornfeld chipped in a basket as well during the spurt. Kornfeld made her first career start in the game and put up a season-high eight points.
The game had the feel of one that would come down to the final bucket, and it almost did in the fourth quarter, as the Bears – led by a pair of 3-pointers from Guy – kept the game close in the frame. With 19.5 seconds left on the close, Guy blocked a Lions' shot and freshman Marisa Morano dove on the loose ball with the score 54-53 in favor of Albright.
Following three fouls by the Lions, the Bears got the ball inside the paint to Konstanzer, who drew a foul with 6.1 seconds remaining in regulation. She sunk the first of two shots from the line to tie the game at 54. The Lions' potential game-winner would fall short.
Part of the Bears' game plan going into the matchup was to keep Lions All-American Alysha Lofton in check. Ursinus did that throughout the game, allowing just four points to the Albright stud. Lofton sat most of the first half after committing two fouls at the midway point of the first quarter.
In Lofton's absence, it was Devan Horka who did most of the damage for Albright. The center put up 25 points and nine rebounds, and got some much-needed help from Nina Mazzarelli (15 points) and Jane Joyce (14).
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday as they travel to Franklin & Marshall.