LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's basketball team (2-1, 0-1 CC) suffered its first loss of the season to Ursinus (4-0, 1-0 CC), 53-44, in its Centennial Conference (CC) opener Tuesday evening at the Mayser Center.

The Diplomats jumped out to an early 9-4 lead to start the game after Ally Trebelev knocked down a three, followed by Gia Sioutis chipping in layups on back-to-back possessions. The teams traded buckets as Jaclyn Feit and Mackenzie Ward each connected from mid-range with just over a minute remaining in the quarter, but the Bears responded with three free-throws to tie the game at 13-all after 10 minutes of play.

Neither side could gain an edge on the other as the second quarter started with the teams trading layups on four-consecutive possessions. As Ursinus started inching away with a 21-17 lead just two minutes into the period, Lizzie Neville knocked down a jumper and Quinn Galligan converted a layup to once again tie the game. The Bears looked to take a three-point lead into the halftime break, but a buzzer-beating layup from Neville cut the visitors' advantage to 25-24 after 20 minutes.

Trailing 31-26 with 5:38 remaining in the third, F&M scored six unanswered points that was started by Trebelev drilling her second triple of the night. The Diplomats regained the lead on a layup from Galligan with 3:36 remaining in the quarter, but Ursinus answered with a layup of their own to disrupt the F&M run.

The Bears didn't look back in the fourth quarter as they grew their lead to 46-38 with five minutes left in regulation. Hope Schreiber knocked down a three-pointer and then hit a free throw two possessions later to get the Diplomats within six. Feit knocked down a pair of free throws at the charity stripe to cut the deficit to four with 1:57 left in the game, but the Bears managed to hold off F&M from getting any closer as time ran out.

Feit led the team with 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. Trebelev registered nine points with two steals in the contest.

The Diplomats as a team shot 29.2 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the free throw line.

Franklin & Marshall will look to bounce back when it travels to Gettysburg on Tuesday, November 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.