COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus Women's Basketball team used an overpowering third quarter to rally past Muhlenberg 71-62 on Wednesday night in Centennial Conference action at Helfferich Hall.
 
 
With the win, the Bears improved to 15-9 overall and 9-5 in Centennial Conference play. The win keeps Ursinus right in the thick of possibly hosting a Centennial Conference Tournament game next week. Meanwhile, the Mules fell to 10-14 overall and 5-9 in Centennial Conference action.
 
 
Senior Madison Smith registered a game-high 25 points to keep her torrid stretch rolling behind making four three-pointers while adding seven rebounds, four assists, plus one steal. First-year Anna Chimento added 12 points off the bench along with four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks while junior Erin Glanz tallied 11 points behind making a trio of three-pointers. Junior Colleen Blackman scored 10 points off the bench along with three rebounds plus three assists.
 
 
The first quarter was very competitive as neither team led by more than three points in the first 10 minutes. The lead changed hands seven times and the Bears pulled ahead late to take the lead into the second quarter at 16-14 behind scoring five straight points after trailing 13-11. Smith opened the second quarter with a three-pointer to put the Bears up 19-14 and did so again that keyed a 5-0 run to make it a 24-19 game at the 7:27-mark. However, the Mules used a 16-4 run in a span of 4:45 to take their largest lead of the game at 35-28 at the 2:27-mark. Smith was once again clutch in pulling the Bears back in closer with a three-pointer in the final minute that made it a 38-34 game.
 
 
Ursinus scored 10 straight points after trailing 42-37 at the 6:38-mark of the third quarter to go up 47-42 and quickly went up 12 points at 57-45 behind five straight points from Blackman with 46 seconds left. The Bears held the Mules to make just one field goal (1-of-17) while making five three-pointers in the third quarter Ursinus took its largest lead of the game at 61-47 with 8:37 left in regulation and continued to make timely baskets to maintain their advantage by multiple possessions. Muhlenberg cut the deficit down to 63-57 with 3:19 left in regulation but the Bears slammed the door shut with six straight points to go up 69-57 at the 1:02-mark. Ursinus split free throws in the final minute to preserve the win.
 
 
The Bears shot 37.5 percent (24-of-64) and 33.3 percent (10-of-30) from three-point range. Ursinus went 13-of-19 (68.4%) from the free throw line and the Mules held a slight 45-44 rebounding advantage. Meanwhile, the Mules shot 31.3 percent (20-of-64) from the field and just 24 percent (6-of-25) from three-point range. Muhlenberg went 16-of-24 (66.7%) from the free throw line and got a team-high 22 points from Katie McGrath.
 
 
The Bears return to action on Saturday, February 21^st as they will host Washington College for Senior Day in their regular season finale at 1:00 p.m.