GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – A rough third quarter proved fatal for the Ursinus College women's basketball team this afternoon, as an otherwise evenly-matched affair fell in Lycoming's favor in the consolation game of the Gwynedd Mercy University Tip-Off Tournament. Senior forward Jessica Porada (Morristown, N.J./Morris Catholic) wound up just shy of a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds, more than enough to be named to the all-tournament team.
Each side outscored the other by a single point in the first two quarters, bringing about a 28-all deadlock. Lycoming (1-1), however, separated itself with a 19-9 discrepancy in the third period, leaving Ursinus (0-2) to a second straight setback. The Warriors were 9-of-14 in the frame, led by a perfect 4-of-4 showing from senior Chelsea Henderson, who finished with 17 points.
Lycoming scored the first four points of the second half and never looked back, leading by as many as 15 (45-30) before senior guard Alyssa Polimeni (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston Regional) completed a three-point play to jumpstart a 10-0 burst for the Bears, who trailed just 47-42 after Porada scored inside to force a timeout with 8:07 left. Polimeni set up Porada for a bucket and then scored one of her own, cutting the Warrior advantage to just three (51-48) at the 3:02 mark of the fourth quarter. But Ursinus came up empty on its next three trips and Lycoming went 8-for-9 from the line to put the game on ice.
Junior Nicole Calella scored 18 points and distributed seven assists to lead the Warriors, while Henderson added six rebounds and five steals en route to making the all-tournament roster.
Porada and Polimeni (15 points, five rebounds, four assists) headline Ursinus' afternoon, with Porada collecting three steals and two blocks to help force Lycoming into 16 turnovers. The Bears shot just 29.4 percent from the floor (20-of-68) and 2-of-16 from deep (12.5%), leaving them chasing despite a 40-35 rebounding edge.
Ursinus welcomes Albright to Helfferich Hall for the home opener on Tuesday, November 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.