HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's basketball team put in a strong effort, but ultimately fell at Haverford on Thursday night, 65-43.
The Fords (15-3, 11-2) jumped out to an early 7-0 advantage, but sophomore Lydia Konstanzer got the Bears on the board with a pair of jumpers on back-to-back possessions. Freshman Maya Kornfeld hit a 3-pointer with 2:13 left in the quarter to pull the Bears to within four points, as Haverford led 11-7. The Fords scored the last four points of the quarter to take a 15-7 lead at the first break.
Haverford sped out to a 20-9 lead to open the second quarter, but the Bears (9-10, 6-8) never quit, getting baskets from Konstanzer and Kornfeld to get within 20-13 halfway through the frame. Konstanzer and freshman Sydney Fail each netted a basket to keep the Bears close, making it a 25-17 ballgame with 1:16 to go in the half. Freshman Marisa Morano sank a layup with 15 seconds left to make it 27-19 through 20 minutes.
The Fords began to separate a bit, but a 3-pointer from freshman Aliyah Stephens trimmed the spread to 31-23 less than two minutes into the third quarter. A 7-0 run from Haverford extended the lead, but Konstanzer hit a pair of free throws to stop the bleeding. Fail netted a layup before Morano hit one of two free throws to pull the Bears to within nine, 38-29, with 2:31 left in the quarter.
The Fords would turn on a 5-0 run to close out the frame ahead 43-29. Ursinus tried to keep close, but ultimately the Fords' lead was too much to overcome.
The Bears struggled shooting, hitting on 29.1 percent from the field while the Fords shot 46.3 percent.
Konstanzer finished the contest with her third straight double-double, putting up 12 points and 11 rebounds as well as two each of assists and steals. Kornfeld had a strong all-around night, totaling nine points, a career high-tying seven boards, and a pair of assists. Fail scored seven points while classmate Alexis Hnatkowsky sank five points off the bench.
Senior Rachel Guy handed out a team-high four assists, her most since tallying seven in the season opener.
The Bears return to Collegeville on Saturday to play host to Johns Hopkins.