HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's basketball team (4-2, 0-1 CC) fell to Ursinus 80-52 as the Bears controlled the interior throughout the afternoon with 48 points in the paint. The Fords finished with seven blocks but were out-rebounded 47-30. Ursinus improved to 6-2 and 1-0 in the Centennial Conference.
Caroline Orza led Haverford with 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting and added six rebounds. Shae Mercer finished with 13 points along with four assists and two steals. Audrey Jakway paced the team with 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting and contributed two blocks. Brianna Feifer added three blocks and seven rebounds in a well-rounded effort.
Ursinus was led by Madison Smith, who scored a game-high 25 points on 8-for-15 shooting and a perfect 8-for-8 showing at the free-throw line. She also collected 12 rebounds. Colleen Blackman added 16 points and went 4-of-6 from three-point range. Delaney McCaffrey contributed 14 points and seven assists while shooting 75 percent from the field. Ava Possenti provided 13 points along with two steals, coming on strong late down the fourth quarter stretch.
Haverford began the contest with strong defensive pressure and turned early turnovers into quick points. Jakway scored on two fastbreak finishes to give Haverford a 6-0 lead. Orza added two layups, but Ursinus closed the frame with a three from Blackman in the final minute to take an 11-10 lead.
Haverford regained momentum early in the second quarter when Orza scored in transition to restore the Fords advantage. Jakway followed with four points inside for a 16-13 lead and the teams traded short runs until Mercer tied the game at 25 with a jumper in the final two minutes. Ursinus responded with a three from McCaffrey and entered halftime with a slim 32-30 lead.
The third quarter opened with a steal by Feifer and a block from Mercer, as the Fords came out with intensity but missed opportunities allowed Ursinus to stretch the margin. Orza hit two free throws to keep the score within four with 6:42 to go, but the Bears answered immediately from the perimeter. A fastbreak three from Bri Heafey and a late three from Mercer offered a lift, though Haverford entered the fourth down 54-40.
Orza delivered a late surge with seven points in the final period, including a three at the one-minute mark, but Ursinus continued to score efficiently in the paint and took advantage of second-chance opportunities, building a commanding 20-0 run with the lead reaching its apex of 31 with 2:20 to go in the contest as Haverford was outscored 52-27 in the second half.
Haverford next returns to action on Saturday, December 6 at 1 p.m. when it hosts Muhlenberg at Gooding Arena as conference play continues into its second matchup of the slate.
