BALTIMORE, Md. – The Ursinus College women's basketball team's (6-9, 5-5 CC) rally fell just short against Johns Hopkins (10-5, 7-3 CC) on Saturday as the Bears lost 62-57. Trailing by as much as 20 with 2:58  to play in the third quarter, the Bears fought all the way back to come within one but finished just short.  

Ursinus struggled through much of the first three quarters to get into a rhythm offensively, shooting 17.5% from the floor through the first 27:02 in the game. However, behind 12 points from Aliyah Stephens in the game's final 12 minutes, the Bears clawed all the way back and almost stole an incredible win on the road.

It was shaky to start as Stephens and Marisa Morano made layups to begin the game, tying the score at four apiece. Hopkins proceeded to go on an 11-0 run to go up 15-4 as the Bears found themselves down 21-10 after the first 10 minutes.

Both teams played tight on defense, not allowing a basket until 4:27 into the second quarter. Hopkins' Aleah Spruell broke the scoreless run with a three before Lydia Konstanzer made Ursinus' first basket with 4:14 remaining in the half. Gabby Downs drained the Bears' only other basket in the quarter as the Bears found themselves down by 19 and trailing 33-14 at the break.

Konstanzer brought the deficit all the way back to 11 after a lay-up in the paint and a made free throw, but an 11-2 Hopkins run kept the Blue Jays well ahead and up by 20 with 2:58 to play in the quarter. An Emma Diaz trey and a Konstanzer jumper made the deficit 12 before a last-second shot by Blue Jays had the Bears trailing 46-32 heading into the final frame.

Hopkins remained up by more than 15 in the early goings of the fourth, leading by as much as 17 twice. Just when it looked like the Blue Jays may hold on to a comfortable win, Stephens came in and scored on the fast break with a steal and cashed in the 'and-one' to light a spark and flip the momentum.

Stephens continued her run, bringing the Bears within single-digits after a lay-up in the paint made it 53-45 with 5:15 to play. Ursinus wasn't done there. Alyssa Martin drained back-to-back treys and then a trio of free throws from Stephens made it a one-point game (55-54).

What was once a blowout, was now a game that would come down to the wire. The Bears remained within one basket until the final seconds, but inconsistent foul shooting with two chances to tie down the stretch kept the Blue Jays in the lead. Hopkins would hang on as the Bears just ran out of time, falling 62-57.

Stephens led the Bears offense with 22 points, including 10 in the final quarter. She also led the Bears with nine rebounds. Konstanzer was right behind her with 14 points. Martin led Ursinus from beyond the arc. The freshman had just one make from three-point range on the season but drained two back-to-back that were crucial in the Bears' comeback attempt.

Ursinus remains on the road as they travel to Swarthmore on Wednesday, needing a win in Centennial Conference action.