Fredericksburg, Va.-- The University of Mary Washington women's basketbal team fell to the Sea Gulls, 84-79 in a thrilling double overtime contest. Four Eagles scored in double digits, lead by Sam Partonen's 17, including two double doubles from Aubrey Howland (13 pts, 18 reb) and Aby Diop (15 pts, 15 reb). The Eagles fall to 14-7, 7-6 CAC for the year.
Caitlin Ciniero started the game off by scoring the first four Eagle points, to give UMW an Early 4-2 lead. With Salisbury leading by a point, UMW put together a run to go up 11-5 early. Ciniero started the spurt with a layup, and a Partonen three gave the Eagles a six point advantage. However the Sea Gulls found an answer, in the form of an 8-0 run to go back up by two.
Salisbury held a three point advantage, before a Julia McLaughlin layup upped the lead to five. UMW fought back, going on a run to take back the lead by one, at 19-18 with 4:45 remaining in the opening half. A back and forth affair towards the end of the half, with each team gaining the lead and giving it back, was ended by a Partonen three at the end of the half to tie the game at 28-28.
The Eagles were lead by Partonen who had ten first half points, while Howland aded seven and nine rebounds. UMW had 12 points on second chance opprotunities, while Salisbury had eight bench points in the opening stanza.
The second half started the way the first ended, going back and forth. Salisbury would take a six point lead, thanks in part to a 5-0 run lead by three Sarah Seipp points. UMW would try to cut into the lead, getting it down to three after a big and one from Brie Matthes. SU found an answer, and once again it was Seipp who hit a big three.
With the game tied at 54 late in the half, a pair of Anna Hackett freebies gave the Sea Gulls a slim two point advantage. UMW fought back in the final minutes, with a Diop layup and a pair of Erin Drumheller free throws with under ten seconds to go tied the game. Claire Haeuptle had a chance late to win the game, but her free throw rimmed out, sending the game to overtime.
In the first overtime, Aby Diop gave the Eagles a two point lead following a pair of free throws. Salisbury got a layup from Aleisha Hobbs, and then a couple free throws from Hobbs to take back the lead at 65-63. With the Eagles down one at 68-67, Claire Haeuptle hit a huge three that got the over 1100 crowd Anderson Center on their feet, as the Eagles took a 70-68 lead. SU would take a three point lead following two Hackett free throws, before Matthes hit the game tying three with six seconds to go to force another overtime.
The second overtime started with a Seipp three and did not stop there. Salisbury took control in the second OT to go on a win an 84-79 battle at the Anderson Center. Four Eagles scored in double digits, lead by Partonen's 17. Aubrey Howland added 13 points and 18 rebounds, while Diop scored 15 points, and collecting 15 caroms. Matthes scored ten points, going 5-6 from the charity stripe. Sarah Seipp led all scorers with 32 points, going 15-28 from the free throw line.
The Eagles look to bounce back on Wednesday, February 12th at Christopher Newport. Tipoff with the Captains is set for 5:30.