CHESTERTOWN, Md. – The Ursinus women's basketball team used a 15-0 run in the third quarter to get past Washington College, 49-41, in a low-scoring Centennial tilt.
After trailing 30-23 with 6:39 remaining in the third quarter, Ursinus (5-3, 2-2) went on a game-changing streak that would flip the script from its largest deficit of the game (seven) to its largest lead (eight). The extended burst ultimately helped the Bears fend off a late fourth-quarter charge from the Shorewomen for an all-important road conference win and their third straight victory.
Baskets were difficult to come by as both teams finished up shooting about 30 percent from the field, but the Bears found what they needed in the third quarter. A string of baskets and tight defense led to Ursinus doubling up the Shorewomen, 18-9, in the frame.
The game shifted as the Bears also asserted their presence on the glass and by winning key loose balls that didn't go their way early on. In the key run, sophomore Maya Kornfeld's dribble drive put the Bears up 31-30 for their first lead since the early stages of the contest.
Kornfeld then drilled the Bears' first 3-pointer of the night, and fellow sophomore Aliyah Stephens added a layup to open up an eight-point lead at 38-30. With 1.2 seconds left in the period, Madeline Williams made two free throws to snap the Shorewomen's scoreless drought at six-and-a-half minutes.
The Bears also held the Shorewomen (4-4, 2-3) without a field goal for nine minutes of game action. Despite its struggles, Washington College didn't go away easily.
Leading scorer Bridget McLaughlin scored the hosts' last field goal of the third quarter, a 3-pointer, and hit another triple to end the streak with 7:28 left in the fourth quarter. The trey cut the lead to 38-35.
Junior Toni Suler pushed the lead to 42-36 with two free throws, but a 5-0 Washington College run including another McLauglin 3-pointer got the Shorewomen within one point at 42-41 with 1:37 remaining.
Sophomore Marisa Morano buried a clutch triple on the wing to give the Bears four points of breathing room with 1:13 left, and the Bears were able to wrap things up with two pairs of free throws down the stretch.
Junior Lydia Konstanzer posted her third double-double outing with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. Konstanzer might have been the only Ursinus player in double figures, but several Bears had all-around games.
Suler contributed great minutes off the bench. The forward just missed the double-double club but filled the entire stat sheet with nine points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, four steals, and two assists.
Stephens was also just shy of a double-double as she scored eight points and collected nine rebounds. Kornfeld scored nine points and handed out four assists.
McLauglin scored a game-high 17 points on 7-of-20 from the field. The Bears were able to shut out two of the Shorewomen starters on the night.
Early on, the Shorewomen jumped out to a 4-0 lead out of the gates but the Bears responded with an 8-0 run of their own to take the 8-4 lead. Washington College then added the next five points to regain the lead 9-8.
To wrap up the first quarter, Washington College's Williams extended the lead to 13-10 with a long jumper with eight seconds remaining in the first quarter.
It was two and a half minutes into the second quarter until the first points of the frame were scored when Washington College's Cassidy Quattro made one of two free throws. The Bears got on the board over a minute later courtesy of Suler's turnaround shot in the post to make it 14-12.
Kornfeld tied the game at 16-16 after a corner jump shot with 3:43 remaining in the second quarter, and freshman Gabby Downs knotted the score again at 20-20 with a layup.
Washington College's Alexis Krahling hit a deep buzzer-beating triple from the top of the key off a drive and kick into the lane by Emily Thiemann to give the Shorewomen a 23-20 lead at halftime.
The Bears shot 14-of-46 (30.4%) from the field, 2-of-12 (16.7%) from 3-point range, and 19-of-24 (79.2%) from the free-throw line. The efficient foul shooting was a major differentiator as Washington College got to the line just eight times.
Ursinus outgained Washington College in the paint, 22 to 10.
The Shorewomen shot 16-of-54 (29.6%) overall, 4-of-13 (30.8%) from deep, and 5-of-8 (62.5%) from the stripe. Washington College committed more turnovers, 16 to 13.
The Bears look to extend their three-game winning streak at Bryn Mawr on Saturday.