Jan. 18, 2014

Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, PA - Three Blue Jays hit double figures, including sophomore Katie Clark who finished with a team-high 15 points, as Hopkins held off Ursinus 71-67 Saturday afternoon. The Jays were clutch down the stretch, hitting nine of their final 14 free throw attempts in the game's closing minutes to help seal the victory. Hopkins out-rebounded its opposition for the seventh straight game, holding a 46-38 advantage on the glass. Hopkins moves to 11-3 on the year with the victory and remains undefeated (9-0) in the Centennial Conference. Ursinus drops to 6-8 (4-5 CC) on the season with the defeat.

After the game was knotted 29-29 at half, the Blue Jays had to dig themselves out of an early hole at the start of the second. The Bears started the half on an 8-2 run, and took their largest lead of the game after a free throw from freshman Gianna Pownall made it 37-31 with 17:22 remaining. Clark responded for the Blue Jays at their other end with a 15-foot jumper from the left side, cutting deficit to four.

JHU briefly retook the lead with 10:58 remaining, after a jumper from junior Maggie Fruehan gave her side a 41-40 lead. The teams traded buckets before Hopkins was able to take a three point edge on back-to-back jumpers from Clark and Fruehan with 8:15 remaining. The Jays maintained the lead, until a three pointer from Ursinus senior Diamond Lewis tied the game 51-51 with 7:06 to play.

The Blue Jays did not falter, and responded swiftly with a three pointer of their own on the ensuing possesion after Fatu Conteh found Alyssa Fleming in the left corner. Fleming buried the three, giving her team a three point advantage that they never relinquished. The Bears fought until the end, but could not string together a comeback run as Hopkins took care of the ball and made its free throws to get the win.

It looked as though Hopkins had control of the game in the early goings of the first half, as the Jays got off to a 17-9 lead on the heels of a balanced inside attack. The Bears would not go away easily, as they chipped away at the Hopkins lead before eventually going up 23-22 with 6:04 remaining. Ursinus sophomore Jessica Porada scored eight of the Bears final 11 points, asserting herself underneath the basket with moves in the low post.

Down 29-25 with 2:17 left in the first, two Jessica Brown free throws and a layup from Clark evened things up before Hopkins headed into the locker room. Alyssa Fleming was 2-3 from three point range in the first half, and finished with 11 points. Fruehan was one rebound shy of a double-double in the game, posting 12 points and nine boards including eight on the defensive glass.

Hopkins is now 9-0 in the Centennial for the first time since the 1997-98 season, when the team opened conference play 12-0. Hopkins will return to Goldfarb Gym for a two game home stand staring on January 22, when the Blue Jays host Washington College 5-9 (4-4 CC).

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