COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's basketball team overcame an 11-point second-half deficit, but fell just short on Senior Day, losing 64-62 to Johns Hopkins. Trailing 37-26 at the half, Lydia Konstanzer showed up in a big way, scoring 11 of the Bears' 23 third-quarter points to take a 49-48 lead. However, it was the Blue Jays who pulled away late as Ursinus lost its third game in the last five by two points or less.
Honored prior to the game were seniors Konstanzer and Francesca Bogiatzis. Konstanzer has gone down as one of the all-time greats in program history, ranking second all-time in points (1,606) and second in rebounds (948). Bogiatzis has earned a spot in the starting five this season and recorded career-highs in total points (41), rebounds (85), assists (19), and steals (8).
The Bears (7-17, 6-13) got off to a strong start, going up 7-3 right off the tip. Aliyah Stephens made a pair of lay-ins while Alyssa Martin drained a three to spark the early run. The Blue Jays came back to tie the game at 12, but six straight points from Konstanzer and Stephens had the Bears leading 18-12 with two minutes to play in the opening frame. Johns Hopkins scored the next five as Ursinus led 18-17 after one.
The Blue Jays (15-8, 12-6) took that momentum into the second quarter. After tying the score at 20, Hopkins took its first lead since 10-9 in the first. The Bears shot just 30% in the second and the Blue Jays took advantage by shooting 8-for-16, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc to lead 37-26 at the half.
Ursinus would not go away quietly, however, especially on Senior Day. Kontstanzer took over the third quarter, scoring 11 of her 19 points on the day in the frame. The senior cut the Hopkins lead to single digits and then a lay-up in the paint had the Bears down by just six, 42-36.
She didn't stop there.
In the zone and with the Blue Jays unable to find an answer for the Bears forward, Konstanzer continued to dominate inside. Back-to-back lay-ins cut the deficit to two and then off a steal, Konstanzer kicked the ball out to Gabby Downs on the nearside wing for a trey, giving Ursinus a 49-48 lead.
The two sides went back-and-forth in the final ten minutes, matching each other basket for basket. The final quarter consisted of five ties and five lead changes. The Bears led 58-56 with 2:08 remaining after a Martin jumper. However, the Blue Jays responded with a 6-0 run that gave them control to go up62-58. Ursinus trailed 64-62 with six seconds remaining before Konstanzer created some late-game drama. The senior earned a steal off the inbound and got the ball up court to Martin who missed the last-second heave.
Johns Hopkins won the battle on boards on Saturday, securing 46 rebounds to Ursinus' 27. 25 of the Blue Jays' rebounds came on the offensive end which turned into 16 second-chance points. The Bears outshot Hopkins 50% to 37.5%, including 42.9% to 31.8% from three-point range.
Leading the Bears offensively was Stephens who finished with a game-high 22 points. Meanwhile, Konstanzer finished with 10 rebounds to go with her 19 points for a double-double, her ninth in a row.
The Bears close out the season next Saturday at Franklin & Marshall.