COLLEGEVILLE, PA - Ursinus College's Mary Kate Daley made a lay-up with eight seconds left on the game clock to lead her team to a 60-58 victory over Franklin & Marshall College in Centennial Conference women's basketball.
Trailing 56-53 with 3:17 left on the game clock following a three-pointer by point guard Dana Johns (Sr., York, PA/Eastern York), the Bears (11-8, 8-5 Centennial Conference) used a rally and some luck to overcome the Diplomats.
Sarah Hennessey drilled a three-pointer with 2:20 left on the clock to knot the score at 56-56 before hitting a jumper at the 1:31 mark to put the Bears ahead 58-56. Franklin & Marshall (5-12, 3-8 Centennial Conference) tied the scored with 25 seconds left as Johns swished a jumper, but Daley drove through the paint and put home a basket with eight seconds on the clock for the winning basket.
Following a timeout, the Diplomats had a chance to tie the game and force overtime, but Johns lay-up attempt was no good and rebounded by Ursinus' Kelly Borrell with two seconds left on the game clock as the Bears held on the win.
Johns finished the game with 14 points on four-of-11 shooting from the field, including two-of-five from beyond the arc, and four-of-six at the free throw line. Guard Christy Strunk (Sr., Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) added 14 points for the Diplomats, while forward Brittany Braxton (So., Pearl River, NY/Nanuet) and guard Sarah Meisenberg (Fr., Severna Park, MD/Severn School) both chipped in 10 points with seven defensive rebounds.
For Ursinus, Hennessey led the way with 18 points on seven-of-13 shooting, including four-of-seven beyond the arc, while Molly Guntli added 11 points, 17 rebounds and four assists and Daley chipped in 11 points on the day as Ursinus won its fourth straight game of the season and improved to 16-22 all-time against Franklin & Marshall College.
The game was nip-and-tuck in the first half as Ursinus built a five-point lead three times before the Diplomats took a 17-15 lead courtesy three free throws by Johns with 9:39 left in the half.
Ursinus retook the lead at 20-19 with 7:03 to go until halftime, but the Diplomats rallied back to carry a 28-27 lead into the break.
Franklin & Marshall pushed the lead out to four points in the opening seconds of the second half as Strunk made a lay-up and a free throw at 19:46 to go in front 31-27, but the Bears clawed their way back to go ahead 46-38 with 13:32 left on the clock.
F&M chipped the lead down to 48-47 with 10:31 to play, but Borrell made a free throw, Daley stroked a jumper and Dana Alf dropped in a lay-up to give Ursinus a 53-47 lead with 7:03 to play.
The Diplomats responded to set up the dramatic conclusion to the game as Strunk hit a jumper at 5:36, Meisenberg made a pair of free throws at 5:02 and Strunk drove to the hoop for a lay-up at 4:11 to tie the game at 53-53.
Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on January 31 at home versus Gettysburg College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
