MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Junior forward Chinwe Irondi scored 25 points and reached 1,000 career points as the Ursinus College women's basketball team earned a 53-46 victory over Montclair State University on Saturday afternoon.
 

It marks as the fourth time this season that Irondi has netted a double-double behind 25 points and 10 rebounds. She was efficient from the field finishing 9-of-18, while it is the fourth time this season, she has scored atleast 25 points in a contest.  Irondi becomes the 16^th member in the Ursinus Women's Basketball program to reach 1,000 career points and the first since Lydia Konstanzer accomplished the feat on January 12th, 2019. Sophomore Ava Possenti tallied nine points, five rebounds, and two steals, while senior Sarah DiLello scored six points and ranked second on the team with seven rebounds.

 
The Bears jumped out to an early 4-1 lead at the 8:13-mark of the opening period behind jump shots from first-year Madison Smith and senior Kelly Grant. The Red Hawks used a 5-1 run to capture their lead, before Irondi connected on her first basket to give Ursinus a 7-6 lead midway through the quarter. Each defense would hold the opposition scoreless for the next three minutes of action, until an Irondi basket gave Ursinus a three-point advantage with 2:38 remaining in the opening stanza. Montclair State connected on a three-pointer during the ensuing possession, but it was Ursinus closing out the first period on a 9-0 run to capture a 18-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Possenti connected on a three-pointer and a layup to combine for five of the nine Ursinus points during the rally.
 

The Red Hawks knocked down a three-pointer to open the second quarter, before senior Alison Lisanti went two-for-two at the charity stripe to give the Bears an eight-point advantage at the 7:34-mark. With Ursinus leading 20-12, Montclair State used a 9-4 run over the next five points of action to cut their deficit to three with 2:12 remaining in the opening half. After a basket from the Red Hawks cut the Bears lead to one, junior Charlotte DiLello and Possenti connected on layups to give Ursinus a 28-23 lead at halftime.

 
On the Bears opening possession of the second half, Lisanti assisted on a basket by Irondi to increase the Ursinus lead to seven at the 9:30-mark. After a 5-1 Red Hawks run cut the Bears lead to three, Irondi netted four straight points to extend the Bears lead to 35-28 with 4:56 remaining in the third quarter. Montclair State responded with a 12-4 run over the remainder of the third period and regained a 40-39 lead. The Red Hawks stretched their lead to three during their opening possession of the fourth quarter, but it an Irondi layup cutting the deficit to one at the 8:53-mark. Ursinus regained a 43-42 advantage with 8:22 remaining in the period as Irondi connected on back-to-back free throws to reach the 1,000-point threshold. After Montclair State tied the game at 43 apiece, Possenti collected a layup to give Ursinus a two-point advantage with 5:58-remaining in fourth quarter. Behind an 8-1 Bears run, Ursinus stretched their advantage to 53-44 with 2:09 remaining in the contest. The Bears run was sparked by back-to-back free throws from Sarah DiLello, before six straight points from Irondi gave Ursinus the nine-point lead. The Bears defense continued to shine over the remainder of the contest leading to the 53-46 road victory to open the holiday tournament.  
 

The Bears shot 40% (20-of-50) from the field, 8.3% (1-of-12) from three-point range, and 70.6% (12-of-17 from the charity stripe. Montclair finished shooting 30.0% (15-of-50) from the field, 14.3% (3-of-21) from deep, and 65% (13-of-20) from the free throw line. Ursinus outrebounded the Red Hawks 38-27, while holding a 12-10 advantage in second chance points. Montclair's Isabella Orlando finished with a team-high 12 points and four rebounds, while Teresa Wolak added 11 points and three rebounds off the bench.
 

The Bears will end their 2023 schedule slate as they face Arcadia University at 2 p.m. for the Montclair State Holiday Tournament finale from the Panzer Athletic Center.