ARLINGTON, Va. – Lydia Konstanzer's all-around effort led the Ursinus College women's basketball team past Elmira, 62-53, in the consolation game of the Pablo Coto Tip-Off Tournament at Marymount (Va.) on Saturday.
Konstanzer scored a game-high 26 points, snared 10 rebounds, collected five steals, and blocked three shots in a tremendous individual performance. The forward hit on 11-of-20 from the field as the Bears (2-1) controlled the game from start to finish, never surrendering the lead.
The Bears had a 14-point lead at halftime (35-21), courtesy of holding Elmira to just six points in the second quarter. Sixteen of Konstanzer's points came in the first half, including three consecutive baskets after the Soaring Eagles had cut an 11-point deficit down to 20-17 early in the second stanza, and her field goal with 23 seconds remaining in the half sent the Bears into the locker oom with a 35-21 upper hand.
Ursinus pushed the lead to as much as 18 at the 7:46 mark of the third quarter, when sophomore Marisa Morano converted a steal into a breakaway layup. The comfortable cushion was too much for Elmira (1-3) despite the Soaring Eagles outscoring Ursinus, 32-27, in the second half.
A crucial facet to the game was ball control. The pesky Bears forced the Soaring Eagles into 22 turnovers compared to their own 11. Ursinus scored 15 points off those turnovers. The Bears also blocked nine shots on the day, with sophomore Aliyah Stephens and freshman Gabby Downs rejecting a pair each.
Three other Bear starters joined Konstanzer with double figures in scoring. Stephens added 11 points and seven rebounds (five on the offensive end). Fellow sophomores Morano and Maya Kornfeld each chipped in 10 points, and Kornfeld handed out a career-high eight assists.
Each team enforced their paint presence. The Bears scored 38 and the Soaring Eagles put up 30 from in close.
Three Elmira starters recorded double-digit outings. Lindsey Heaton scored a team-high 19 points, while Rachel Vespucci added 14 and Lauren Franklin 10. Franklin also gathered in eight rebounds.
The Bears went 23-of-57 (40.4%) from the field, 1-of-6 (16.7) from beyond the arc and 15-29 (51.7%) from the line. The Soaring Eagles shot 18-of-47 (38.3%) from the field, 3-of-8 (37.5%) from 3-point range and 14-of-19 (73.7%) from the charity stripe.
On the glass, Elmira snatched three more rebounds than Ursinus (36-33).
The Bears open conference play at home Tuesday against Haverford at 6 p.m.