HAVERFORD, Pa. – In a high-energy Centennial Conference showdown at Gooding Arena, the Haverford College women's basketball team (8-7, 2-3 CC) mounted a valiant fourth-quarter comeback but fell short in a 75-64 loss to Ursinus (10-5, 4-1 CC). With the win, the Bears secured the season series against the Fords.
The game, attended by an enthusiastic crowd for the annual Hoops & Hoagies night, an annual event featuring delicious food, basketball, and camaraderie among Haverford faculty, staff, and students, featured a spirited fourth-quarter rally led by junior guard Caroline Orza. Her electrifying performance captivated the home fans despite the comeback effort falling short.
Haverford struggled early, trailing 27-7 after the first quarter as Ursinus's Ava Possenti and Chinwe Irondi combined for a dominant start. The Bears opened the game on a 20-0 run, with Shae Mercer finally halting the momentum with a layup at the 4:04 mark. Grace Leverton capped a 7-0 Haverford run with a three-pointer to trim the lead to 13, but Ursinus responded with their own 7-0 spurt to restore a 20-point advantage heading into the second quarter.
Leverton connected on another triple early in the second quarter, and Audrey Jakway added five straight points to bring the Fords within 13 with 6:11 remaining in the half. However, Ursinus countered with a 9-4 run, highlighted by an Erin Glanz three-pointer. Despite improved shooting and defensive adjustments in the frame, Haverford entered halftime facing a daunting 42-24 deficit.
The Bears extended their lead in the third quarter, with back-to-back three-pointers from Possenti and Colleen Blackman pushing the margin to 51-28 midway through the period. After Orza split a pair of free throws, an 8-0 Ursinus run helped the visitors pull away further, capitalizing on key Haverford turnovers. Ursinus carried a commanding 61-33 lead into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter, however, belonged firmly to Haverford. Behind Orza's inspired play, the Fords exploded for 31 points in the period, bringing the Gooding Arena crowd to its feet. Orza finished with a game-high 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including four three-pointers. She opened the quarter with a triple, but a response from Blackman kept Ursinus ahead by 30.
Moments later, Brianna Feifer was fouled on a three-point attempt and sank all three free throws, igniting a 13-2 Haverford run that trimmed the lead to 68-49. Orza then scored on a layup with 1:57 left, and back-to-back layups by Siena Emuobor capped a 6-0 spurt. Orza drained a deep three-pointer off an Abby Ryan assist, and a steal from Emuobor led to another Orza triple in the final seconds. Following an Ursinus miscue, Orza hit her third three-pointer in a matter of moments, slicing the deficit to eight at 72-64.
Although the Fords fell short, their fourth-quarter rally demonstrated the team's resilience and potential to compete in the tough Centennial Conference landscape. Jakway contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds, recording another double-double for the Fords. Haverford's defense forced 20 Ursinus turnovers, converting those into 26 points. Ursinus held a 37-31 rebounding edge, with Irondi leading the visitors with 20 points. Possenti notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Blackman and Madison Smith chipped in 15 and 11 points, respectively.
Haverford aims to build on its late-game momentum as the team prepares for its next matchup at Dickinson on Saturday, January 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Kline Center in Carlisle.