For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Despite missing their floor general, Ursuline put up a good fight in a 55-52 loss to Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) in the St. Francis Healthcare Cup bracket of the Diamond State Classic on Tuesday afternoon at the St. E Center. The Crusaders came into the tournament as the 21st-ranked team in the country.
With point guard Alisha Lewis sidelined with a wrist injury, the Raiders came out on fire and scored the first seven points on two inside baskets by Kryshell Gordy and a three-pointer by Sabriya Harris, who started in place of Lewis.
Lutheran responded by forcing turnovers and getting the ball inside to Sarah Mortensen. The first quarter ended tied at 12, and both teams would continue a rapid pace into the second quarter. Four free throws from Gordy gave Ursuline a 25-23 lead.
The three-point shooters took over in the third, as the Raiders had four – two each by Alyssa Irons and Maggie Connolly. Meanwhile, Mortensen hit her own triple and scored four two-point field goals as the Crusaders kept pace, trailing by one at the end of three.
Mortensen continued her fine play in the fourth quarter as she scored more inside, but the Raiders answered. Lutheran put together a 7-0 run to go up, 51-46, with 1:50 left. Kailyn Kampert knocked down two out of three free throws to cut it to 51-49.
On the next Lutheran possession, the Raiders appeared to have caused a turnover, but the ball went through some hands, and a jump ball resulted, with the Crusaders keeping it. They hit two free throws, but Connolly hit a long three-pointer with eight seconds left. Mortensen calmly hit two free throws, and Ursuline missed a layup as time expired.
Gordy had 14 points, while Irons had 13 and Connolly 12. The Raiders play St. Rose in the third-place game at 2:30 this afternoon. Mortensen had 27 to lead all scorers; Lutheran will play the fifth-ranked team in the nation, Neumann-Goretti from Philadelphia, in the championship game at 4:15 p.m.
