GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – Behind a stellar defensive performance, the Ursinus women's basketball team earned a 51-43 season-opening victory over Elizabethtown College at Gwynedd Mercy Tip-Off Tournament on Friday evening at the Griffin Complex.
The victory marked the Bears' first season-opening win since earning a 76-56 victory over Immaculata to open the 2023-24 season. Juniors
Ruth O'Keeffe and
Delaney McCaffery led the Bears offensively, scoring 19 points apiece and combining for 18 rebounds. McCaffery's 19-point, 10-rebound performance marked her first career double-double and a career high in points. O'Keeffe also recorded a career high in points and added eight rebounds, while first-year
Bridget Grant contributed five points and three assists in her collegiate debut.
The Bears jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first three minutes of action behind layups from McCaffery and senior
Erin Glanz. However, the Blue Jays responded with an 8-0 run over the remainder of the quarter and held a four-point lead entering the second stanza.
Elizabethtown carried the momentum into the start of the second period, connecting on a 3-pointer on their first possession. However, four straight points by O'Keeffe trimmed the Bears' deficit to 14-8. Sophomore
Olivia Nardi then recorded a steal and an offensive rebound, leading to Grant's first basket. A free throw by McCaffery and a layup by Nardi followed, making the score 14-13 with 6:06 remaining in the first half. After both teams traded baskets, McCaffery scored the final four points of the quarter for Ursinus as the Bears entered halftime trailing 20-19.
Ursinus regained its first lead since the opening quarter on the opening possession of the third period, as a McCaffery steal led to a basket by O'Keeffe to give the Bears a 21-20 advantage. O'Keeffe scored the first nine points of the quarter for the Bears before a layup by sophomore
Anna Chimento stretched the lead to 30-24 with 4:36 remaining in the period.
McCaffery then capitalized on an offensive rebound with a layup before consecutive 3-pointers by McCaffery and Grant gave Ursinus a 38-26 lead. Elizabethtown responded with a layup at the 2:30 mark, but McCaffery closed out the quarter with her second 3-pointer to give Ursinus a 41-28 advantage entering the final stanza.
The Blue Jays responded with four straight points at the free throw line to trim their deficit to 41-32 with 8:09 to play. However, a pair of free throws and a layup by McCaffery gave Ursinus an 11-point advantage. Elizabethtown connected on a 3-pointer on its ensuing possession, but the Bears' defense denied the Blue Jays on their next five possessions to maintain a 45-36 lead with 2:50 remaining.
The Blue Jays trimmed their deficit to 45-39 on a 3-pointer, but O'Keeffe scored the next six points for Ursinus en route to a 51-43 victory.
The Bears shot 32.8% (19-of-58) from the field and 15% (3-of-20) from 3-point range. Ursinus went 10-of-13 (76.9%) from the free throw line, while Elizabethtown held a slight 43-41 rebounding advantage. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays shot 27% (17-of-63) from the field and 18.2% (2-of-11) from 3-point range.
The Bears will return to action Saturday against host Gwynedd Mercy University in the championship game at 3 p.m.
