HAVERFORD, Pa. – Senior Jacquelyne Pizzuto set a career high with 22 points as the Haverford College women's basketball team defeated the Ursinus College Bears 61-56 on Tuesday night at the Gooding '84 Arena.
The Fords started off fast as they scored 12 of the first 14 points of the contest. Haverford held Ursinus to just 1-of-7 during that time frame while making four of its first six shots from the floor. The Bears broke that run with a three-pointer from Hannah Kelly, but Pizzuto pushed the home team's lead back to double digits with a three-pointer of her own.
Ursinus got back in the game with a 13-3 run to tie the game at 18 at the 7:12 mark of the first stanza. In that run, the Bears made three baskets from beyond the arc. After the two conference rivals traded points, the Fords ended the final six minutes of the first half on a 19-6 run. Pizzuto dazzled in the first 20 minutes of game action, scoring 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
The Bears got within single digits for the first time in the second half with 10:32 remaining in the game. Haverford kept Ursinus at bay until the visitors cut their deficit to three (52-49) with 1:42 to go. On the next possession, senior Shannon Smith scored and came up with a big block on the following Bears' possession. Ursinus got within three at one point, but Haverford made seven of its nine free throws in the final minute to keep the to ice the game.
Pizzuto had four rebounds, four assists and a steal along with her career high in points. Freshman Sierra Berkel scored 10 points, making all four of her baskets. Smith just missed a double-double with nine points, nine rebounds and five blocked five shots. Senior Elizabeth Lynch recorded 11 points, five rebounds and five assists in the win.
Jessica Porada posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
Tonight was Haverford's season-high fifth straight win. The Fords moved to 11-6 on the season and 9-1 in the Centennial Conference while Ursinus dropped to 6-12 and 5-7 in the conference. It's also the sixth win for head coach Bobbi Morgan's squad in its last eight games vs. Ursinus. Haverford will welcome the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats to the Gooding '84 Arena on Thursday with the game set for a 7 p.m. tip-off.