Pledger Posts Sixth Double-Double of the Season with 14 Points and 10 Rebounds

COLLEGEVILLE, PA – Ursinus' Caroline Shimrock canned a jumper with 4.4 seconds left and it proved to be the winning bucket as host Ursinus edged visiting Washington College, 61-59,  in Centennial Conference women's basketball action on Wednesday night at Helfferich Hall.  The Bears improved to 12-12 overall and 9-10 in the conference, while the Shorewomen fell to 10-14 and 8-11 respectively. 

With the score tied at 59-59 with 20.7 seconds remaining in the game following a game-tying three-pointer from the top of the key by Washington junior guard Kelly Mitchell (Laurel, MD/Academy of the Holy Cross), the Bears had the ball following the make.  Shimrock drove to the basket and hit an eight-footer from the paint to put Ursinus up 61-59 with 4.4 seconds left.  Washington had the ball last, but the 25-foot three-point attempt by freshman guard Ashley Espinosa (Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) was off the mark and the Bears hold on for the win.

The Shorewomen scored the first six points of the game to take 6-0 lead just 2:44 into the game on two free throws by junior forward Latisha Pledger (Chesapeake, VA/Indian River).  The Bears answered with a 12-2 run to take a 12-8 lead with 10:34 to go in the opening half on an Alyssa Polimeni layup.  Washington wound respond with a 7-2 run of its own to retake the lead at 15-14 lead on a traditional three-point play with 8:21 remaining in the half by Espinosa.  The Shorewomen tied the game at 21-21 with 5:26 to go in the first half on a conventional three-point play by freshman forward Carley Kendall (Harleysville, PA/Souderton Area) before the Bears scored six of the next eight points to take a 27-23 lead with 3:59 left in the first on a jumper by Elana Roadcloud.  Washington would respond and tie the game at 29-29 with 1:51 left in the opening half on a layup by senior center Erin Kile (Benton, PA/Benton Area), but Ursinus made two free throws in the final 1:12 of the half to take a 31-29 lead into the locker room. 

The Shorewomen scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 36-31 lead with 16:27 to go in the game on a lay-in by sophomore guard Emily Hubley (West Chester, PA/Bayard Rustin).  Ursinus would take back the lead with a 10-2 run to take a 41-38 lead on a Polimeni transition layup with 13:01 left in the second.  The Shorewomen countered with seven straight points to take a 45-41 lead with 11:44 to go in the contest on a Kile layup.  The Bears netted seven straight points of their own to take a 48-45 lead with 6:39 to go on a lay-in by Shimrock that started a 12-2 run to take a 53-47 lead with 5:04 left in the game on a Shimrock layup and free throw after she was fouled on the layup.  The Shorewomen responded with six of the next eight points to trim the lead to 55-53 with 3:18 left on a layup by Espinosa.  After a layup by the Bears' Roadcloud put the hosts up 57-53 with 2:15 left, Espinosa converted a traditional three-point play with 1:55 left to cut the Ursinus lead to just one at 57-56.  The Bears would take a 59-56 lead with 33.7 seconds on a Shimrock layup on a feed from Roadcloud after Roadcloud stole the ball.  Mitchell would knot the game at 59-59 with 20.7 ticks to go when she drained a three-pointer from the top of the key. 

Shimrock led all players with a game-high 22 points and was one of three Bears to score in double figures.  Polimeni had 14 points and Roadcloud added 10 points for the Bears.  Diamond Lewis had game-highs of four steals and four assists, while Devin Butchko had a team-topping seven rebounds.  The Bears shot 34% from the floor (22-for-64), 31% from three-point land (5-for-16) and 60% from the foul line (12-for-20).  Ursinus had just nine turnovers, while forcing 22 Washington turnovers and that turned into a 16-7 edge for the hosts in points off turnovers.

Pledger tallied her sixth double-double of the year with 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Espinosa chipped in with 12 points, while Hubley scored 10 points off the bench.  Kendall led all participants with two blocked shots.  The Shorewomen shot 36% from the floor (22-for-61), 12% from the three-point line (2-for-17) and 77% from the charity stripe (13-for-17).  Washington held a 52-35 advantage in rebounds.

Ursinus held a 20-16 edge in second chance points, while Washington had the advantage in points in the paint, 34-26, and bench points, 21-14.

The Shorewomen conclude their season on Saturday afternoon at Bryn Mawr in conference action.  Tip time is slated for 2:00 p.m.