COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Haverford College women's basketball team placed three starters in double figures but fell to host Ursinus College, 65-52, in a tough Centennial Conference battle Wednesday night.
Dropping just their third contest on the road all season, the Fords (16-7, 11-7 CC) fell short in their attempt to complete the season sweep of the Bears (13-9, 12-5).
The game had a playoff feel to it from the opening tip as both squads feature prominently in the race for a place in the conference tournament later this month. Ursinus hit its first four shots to inch out to an early 10-7 lead yet, Haverford drained six of its first 10 shots to hang right with the Bears. Dominique Meeks got off to a quick start as she scored seven of the Fords' first nine points. Ten minutes into action the score stood at 13-13 but Ursinus scored the next six to open up a 19-13 lead with 6:13 on the clock. Haverford did not back down as it answered with a surge of its own. Powered by three straight shots from behind the arc, courtesy of Victoria Sobocinski and Rachel Baskin, the Fords went on a 15-7 run over the next five minutes to take a slim 28-26 lead with 34 ticks remaining in the half. The Bears quickly responded though, as Alli Rosati's jumper with 10 seconds remaining forged a 28-28 tie at intermission.
Both teams shot well from the field in the first half as Haverford struck at a 55 percent clip and Ursinus, registering a 45 percent mark, was not too far behind. The Fords' defense managed to put the clamps on the Bears' leading scorer, Lindsay Teuber, as she managed just four points in the opening period.
Haverford's hopes to continue its hot shooting in the second half were not realized as it hit just three of its first 16 shots from the field. That chilly stretch allowed Ursinus to push out to a 15 point advantage, 53-38, with just over five minutes remaining in the contest. The Fords did not go away quietly however as a gritty effort cut the lead to 57-50 on a Baskin layup with 1:12 on the clock. The Bears went a perfect 8-of-8 from the line in the last minute to secure the victory.
Baskin paced Haverford's balanced attack with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Meeks chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds while Jacquelyne Pizzuto struck for 11 points. Sobocinski finished with nine points and helped the Fords on the glass by also snatching 10 boards.
Alli Rosati led the Bears with 13 points. Teuber finished with eight points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Haverford, continuing its quest for a spot in the playoffs, returns to action next Wednesday as it welcomes Muhlenberg College to Gooding Arena for the last home contest of the regular season. Game time is set for 6 p.m.