BALTIMORE, MD. – The Ursinus College women's basketball team fell to No. 12 Johns Hopkins, 66-45 on Friday evening from Goldfarb Gym in the Centennial Conference semifinals.

 
With the defeat, Ursinus closes out their stellar 2023-24 season with a 15-12 overall record and reaching the semifinal round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season. It also marks as the most wins for the Bears in a season since a 17-10 record in 2018-19.

 
Junior forward Chinwe Irondi lead the Bears offense with 10 points, nine rebounds, and two steals behind shooting 33% (5-of-15) from the field. Sophomore forward Madison Smith added nine points, four rebounds, and three assists while senior Natalie Mehl tallied nine points and a block.

 
Each team traded baskets to open the first period, before the Blue Jays used an 9-0 run to capture an 11-2 lead with 6:59 remaining in the quarter. Both teams were held scoreless for the next three minutes of action until senior Sarah DiLello connected from deep to cut the Bears deficit to six at the 3:58-mark. Johns Hopkins converted on their next two possessions, but Alison Lisanti found Smith for an open three-pointer to make the score 15-8. After a Johns Hopkins triple at the 1:42-mark, Ursinus closed out the opening stanza on a 7-0 run to cut their deficit to 18-15 at the end of the first quarter. During the Ursinus rally, Mehl converted on a triple while junior Charlotte DiLello tallied a layup at the buzzer to bring the Bears within a basket.

 
Each defense played well to open the second stanza as both teams were held without a point for the first 2:26 of play. Over the next two minutes of action, Johns Hopkins regained the momentum with a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 24-15 with 5:53 remaining in the half. Smith and Sarah DiLello each converted baskets over the next few possessions, but the Blue Jays closed out the half on a 7-2 run and held a 31-19 edge at the halftime break.

 
The Blue Jays carried the momentum into the second half scoring the first five points before Mehl connected on a jump shot at the 8:16-mark. After a layup from Hopkins, each team was held scoreless for nearly two minutes with the Blue Jays holding onto a 38-21 advantage. Johns Hopkins closed out the third quarter on a 19-2 run to stretch their lead to 57-23 with one quarter to play. The Bears started to battle back in the fourth quarter scoring eight points of the period behind four points apiece by Irondi and Mehl. Later in the period, Sarah DiLello connected on a three-pointer sparking a 7-0 run for the Bears to bring their deficit to 59-38. After each team traded baskets, sophomore Stephanie Donato scored five straight points via a three-pointer and mid-range jump shot to bring the Bears deficit to 17. That's as close as Ursinus could get as Johns Hopkins scored the final four points to earn the 66-45 victory and advance to the Centennial Conference Championship finals.

 
The Bears shot 31% (18-of-58) from the field, 21.7% (5-of-23) from three-point range, and 66.7% (4-of-6) at the charity stripe. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays shot 39.7% (25-of-63) from the floor, 26.1% (6-of-23) from deep, and 45.5% (10-of-22) at the free throw line. Johns Hopkins held a 30-20 advantage with points in the paint, while each team collected 13 points off turnovers.
 

Ursinus will look to build off an impressive 2023-24 season and make sure to visit Ursinus athletics' home online, Ursinusathletics.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news on all Bears sports including post-game recaps, interviews, and much more.

 
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