COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Haverford College women's basketball team (3-4, 0-1 CC) fell to the Ursinus Bears (7-2, 1-0 CC) on Wednesday evening by a score of 80-52. The game at Helfferich Hall marked the Fords' first Centennial Conference matchup of the season.
The opening quarter saw Ursinus storm out to a commanding 15-7 run in the first six minutes, prompting Haverford to call a timeout. During the stretch, the Bears were red-hot, shooting 6-of-8 from the field, including three three-pointers. Colleen Blackman spearheaded the effort, tallying eight of the Bears' first 15 points, six of which came from beyond the arc. Haverford went 3-for-8 from the field during this span, with Caroline Orza contributing a three-pointer. Both teams added four points each to close out the quarter, with Ursinus holding a 19-11 lead heading into the second.
The second quarter began with back-and-forth play, as Haverford edged the Bears 8-7 over the first three-and-a-half minutes to trim the deficit to 26-19 with 6:16 remaining in the half. Orza and Audrey Jakway each connected on shots from deep during this stretch, helping the Fords stay within striking distance. However, Ursinus found their rhythm, responding with a 10-1 run over the next two-and-a-half minutes. Chinwe Irondi led the charge, scoring five points as the Bears shot a perfect 4-for-4 during the run. Ursinus extended their lead to 36-20 with 2:38 left in the quarter and outscored Haverford 7-5 down the stretch, taking a commanding 43-25 advantage into halftime. Orza added another three-pointer for the Fords in the closing moments of the half.
At the break, Irondi led all scorers with 15 points, while Orza paced Haverford with 12.
The Bears continued their dominant play in the third quarter, opening with a 12-5 run to push their lead to 55-30 at the 5:41 mark. Irondi and Blackman combined for 12 points during this stretch, with Blackman hitting two more three-pointers. Ursinus maintained their momentum, outscoring Haverford 9-5 to close the quarter. Possenti was a key factor for the Bears, adding seven points, including a three-pointer. Jakway and Emuobor provided sparks for Haverford, with Jakway hitting a three and Emuobor scoring inside.
In the final quarter, both teams traded baskets over the first six minutes, with Ursinus narrowly outscoring Haverford 13-12. The Bears shot an efficient 6-of-8 from the field during this span, highlighted by Charlotte DiLello's four points. Haverford responded with contributions from Orza and Jakway, while Shae Mercer and Brianna Feifer each drained a three-pointer. Cayla Menicola also got on the board with her first basket of the game as the Fords looked to chip away at a 77-47 deficit with 3:26 remaining. However, the Bears held firm, closing out the game for an 80-52 victory and their first Centennial Conference win of the season.
Irondi and Possenti were standout performers for Ursinus, each finishing with a game-high 21 points. For Haverford, Jakway led the way with 17 points, while Orza added 14. Mercer was a force on the boards, grabbing a game-high eight rebounds.
The Fords will conclude their two-game road trip on Saturday, December 7, with a visit to Allentown, Pa., to face the Muhlenberg Mules at 1 p.m.