READING, Pa. – Senior forward Madison Smith scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Ursinus women's basketball team to a 51-49 victory over Alvernia University on Tuesday evening on the road.
 
 
With the win, Ursinus improved to 3-2 on the season, while the Golden Wolves fell to 2-1 overall. Smith surpassed her previous career best of 21 against Misericordia last season and added nine rebounds and two assists. Senior guard Ava Possenti contributed 17 points and nine rebounds, while junior forward Emma Afflerbach collected six points and a career-best seven rebounds for the Bears.
 
 
Possenti opened the scoring for the Bears with a layup after driving past her defender from the three-point line. After an Alvernia layup, Smith scored on consecutive chances to stretch the Bears' lead to 6-2 at the 7:43 mark. The Golden Wolves responded with a 10-4 run to take a 12-10 advantage with 4:39 remaining in the opening quarter. Alvernia pushed its lead to six on two occasions before Possenti knocked down a three-pointer and first-year Anna Chimento hit a pair of free throws to close the period with Ursinus trailing 18-17.
 
 
Ursinus regained a 19-18 lead to start the second quarter as junior Colleen Blackman hit a jumper at the 9:41 mark. After the teams traded baskets, both defenses held strong for the next two minutes until Smith knocked down two free throws with 6:14 left in the first half. Alvernia answered with five straight points to retake a 28-25 lead, but a layup from Possenti with 1:26 to play cut the deficit to one. With seven seconds remaining, senior Makenna Foder found Smith cutting to the basket to give Ursinus a 29-28 halftime lead.
 
 
The Bears scored the first four points of the third quarter on baskets from Possenti and Smith to build a 33-28 advantage. After an Alvernia jumper at the 7:46 mark, both defenses again controlled the pace as Ursinus carried a 33-32 lead into the fourth. Possenti ended the scoreless drought to open the final period by converting off an offensive rebound at the 9:24 mark. Leading by three, Ursinus saw Alvernia trim the margin with two free throws, but back-to-back three-pointers by Possenti and Smith extended the Bears' lead to 41-34 with 7:54 remaining. Afflerbach assisted on both shots to set up the open looks.
 
 
Ursinus pushed its lead to nine on two separate occasions before a 7-3 run from Alvernia cut the score to 48-43 with 1:10 remaining. The Golden Wolves closed within two in the final minute, but Smith sank three of her four free-throw attempts to secure the 51-49 win.
 
 
Ursinus shot 29.7% (19-for-64) from the floor, 15% (3-for-20) from three-point range, and 58.8% (10-for-17) at the free-throw line. Alvernia finished 36.8% (21-for-57) from the field, 25% (3-for-12) from beyond the arc, and 66.7% (4-for-6) at the line. Taryn Woodson led the Golden Wolves with 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.
 
 
The Bears return to action on Friday, Nov. 21, as they open the Terry Greene Tip-Off Tournament against Delaware Valley University, hosted by Franklin & Marshall College.