DALLAS, TX -- The Bishop Lynch women's basketball team opened up district play last night and fell 51-43 to their longest rival Ursuline Academy (9-6, 1-0). This is the program's first loss in their district opener since the 2019-2020 season and their first loss to Ursuline since 2012, breaking a 24-game winning streak.
The offense wasn't there for either team in the contest, but especially for the Friars. BL only shot 27.8% from the field and went 1-15 from deep and 8-17 from the free throw line. Defense and taking care of the ball kept the Friars in the game as they held Ursuline to just 31.9% shooting and only committed 10 turnovers.
The Bears won this game by not only playing very hard but also hitting the three-point shot. They outscored the Friars by 18 points in just the three-point category.
This loss brings the Friars record to 10-7, 0-1 on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Bishop Lynch took the early lead 3-0 but that was the last time they would lead in the entire contest. The Friars could only manage five points in the first quarter on 2-15 shooting with
Londyn Perry and
Iyana Axson each scoring two points. The Bears led 14-6 after one.
The second quarter didn't see much improvement in shooting, but the Friars inched closer in the game with stout defense, holding the Bears to just 4-15 from the field. Perry had one of her best quarters of the year, scoring six of the Friars' 10 points while also grabbing three rebounds in the quarter. The halftime deficit was 23-15.
Bishop Lynch's offense exploded in the third as it was their best quarter all game. The Friars scored 18 points alone behind five points from both
Alice Thackston and
Fre Vowels. BL went 6-11 from the field and Vowels hit the only three-pointer of the night in the third. After three the Friars closed the gap to just four points as they trailed 37-33.
On two separate occasions in the fourth quarter, the Friars got within two points of the Bears but could not get over the hump. The first was when Thackston opened the quarter with a bucket making it 37-35. Later on, Axson got an offensive rebound put back to make it 41-39. Ursuline's free throw shooting came up clutch as they went 8-11 down the stretch to keep the Friars at bay and close out the game.
Axson finished the game with her second double-double of the season as she finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Perry finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Bishop Lynch Game Leaders:
Points:
Iyana Axson | 12
Assists:
Mikah Ford | 3
Rebounds:
Iyana Axson | 1
Steals:
Londyn Perry | 3
Blocks:
Alice Thackston | 4
NEXT UP:
Bishop Lynch travels south to take on The Kinkaid School in a non-district matchup. The game will be held in Houston on Saturday, December 9 at 2:00 p.m.
AROUND TAPPS LAST NIGHT:
Parish Episcopal defeated Nolan Catholic, 50-37
John Paul II defeated Dallas Thunder, 67-57
SUB-VARSITY
Freshman: The freshman women won a very entertaining game last night against Ursuline, 36-35. They are now 5-7, 1-0 on the season.
Junior Varsity: The JV women lost a battle against Ursuline 44-26 last night. Over the past weekend, the ladies won the consolation championship of the Irving ISD Tournament with victories over Nimitz and MacArthur.
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