FREDERICKSBURG, VA - The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team, ranked 23rd and 25th this week nationally, defeated St. Mary's College, 71-48, on Sunday evening at Goolrick Gymnasium to improve to 20-4 on the year, and 15-1 in Capital Athletic Conference play. With the win, the Eagles tie Marymount University atop the CAC regular season standings, and by virtue of a winning coin flip will be the top seed in next week's CAC Tournament.

On Sunday, the eagles jumped ahead early with the first five points of the game, on a layup from Katie Wimmer (Vienna, Va., James Madison) and a three pointer for Jenna McRae (Springfield, Va., Annandale). The Seahawks cut the deficit to 5-4 before UMW made six straight points to move the lead to 11-4 with 13:37 left in the half. UMW led by as many as 12 in the waning minutes of the half before the Seahawks cut the deficit to 28-21 at halftime.

UMW shot 54.8% from the field in the second half to pull away. The Eagles scored the first eight points of the second half, including six points from McRae and a three from Wimmer. UMW upped the lead to as many as 25 before closing the contest with a 23-point margin of victory.

McRae led the Eagles with 13 points, and added seven rebounds. Freshman Kate Vennergrund (Centreville, Va., Centreville) scored 11 points and grabbed six boards. Freshman Carol Dye (Springfield, Va., Lake Braddock) had seven points, 10 rebounds, and five blocked shots.

Mary Washington will receive a bye in the first round of the CAC Tournament and will host a semifinal contest on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.