SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's basketball team were unable to overcome a slow start as they fell to Swarthmore College on Saturday afternoon 52-39.
 
 
With the loss, the Bears fell to 2-2 overall and open CC action 0-1, meanwhile the Garnet improved to 2-2 on the season and open conference play 1-0.
 
 
Sophomore Chinwe Irondi led the Bears with 11 points and seven rebounds while shooting 50% (4-8) from the field. Junior guard Natalie Mehl added eight points and two assists while junior Sarah DiLello chipped in with seven points and three rebounds.

 
Irondi scored the first basket of the game after a successful layup on a pass from Kelly Grant at the 9:47 mark. Over the next five minutes Swarthmore controlled pace of play using a 15-0 run to capture a 13-point lead with 4:18 remaining in the first. Mehl knocked down two free throws seconds later, but the Garnet answered with a layup from Norah Wingfield to make the score 17-4. Ursinus responded with a 7-0 run to close out the first stanza with Swarthmore 17-11. First-year Madison Smith and Mehl combined for the final seven points of the quarter to cut the Bears deficit to six.
 
 
Swarthmore opened the second period with a 7-0 run over the first two minutes to capture a 24-11 lead with 7:58 remaining in the half. Irondi knocked down back-to-back free throws to cut the deficit to 11, before each team went scoreless over the next three minutes. Swarthmore's Wingfield connected on a three-pointer at the 4:26 mark as the Bears responded with a three from DiLello later. Mehl found Irondi on a fast break on the ensuing possession to cut the Bears deficit to nine, but Swarthmore answered with the final basket to make the score 29-18 heading into halftime.
 
 
Swarthmore opened the scoring in the second half with a layup, but the Bears answered with a layup from Mehl to keep the deficit at double digits. Each team went scoreless over the next three minutes until Anna Hansson converted on a layup attempt. The Garnet scored four of the next five points until Sarah DiLello knocked down back-to-back free throws with 3:54 to play in the period. Swarthmore's defense stepped up outscoring Ursinus 4-1 over the final minutes of the third stanza and held a 41-24 lead.
 
 
Swarthmore opened the fourth with a jumper, but the Bears quickly answered as Irondi scored on a layup at the 8:47 mark. After a Swarthmore free throw, Ursinus responded with a 7-1 run to cut the deficit to 13. Junior Alyssa Martin converted on a layup and first-year Stephanie Donato knocked down a three-pointer. Irondi, DiLello, and Maria D'Aulerio each scored over the final minutes, but the Garnet held onto a 52-39 victory.
 
 
Swarthmore shot 38.5% (20-52) from the field and 26.7% (4-15) from behind the three-point line while holding Ursinus to shoot 25.5% (12-47) from the field and 18.8% from deep.
 
 
The Bears will return to action on Tuesday for their 2022-23 home opener with a Centennial Conference matchup with Franklin & Marshall.