The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team dropped a 69-63 decision to 19th ranked Salisbury University on Wednesday night in Capital Athletic Conference action at the Anderson Center. The Eagles fall to 8-4 on the season, and 4-1 in CAC play.
In a tight contest that saw neither team lead by double digits, the Eagles posted the first basket of the game before the Sea Gulls went on a 10-4 run to lead, 10-6, with 14:58 remaining. Salisbury's slim lead fluctuated between one and four points until a jumper with 10:08 gave the visitors a six point lead at 19-13.
After an SU three pointer with 6:38 left in the half returned their lead to six, UMW scored six straight to tie the score at26-26 with 4:54 in the half. Freshman Taylor Barton was the catalyst for the Eagles with a pair of baskets in the run, contributing to her 6-7 shooting from the floor in the first half.
Salisbury answered with a 7-1 run to lead, 33-27, with 3:44 remaining, and grew to nine before Barton closed the scoring with a basket to cut the halftime deficit to 42-35.
UMW started the second half with an 11-4 run to again tie the score at 46 with 15:43 remaining. Barton and Brianne Comden each had a pair of baskets in the stretch. Salisbury answered with a pair of free throws and a three pointer, but again UMW cut into the deficitas Sarah Listenbee's three point play with 10:28 to play cut the score to 51-49.
Salisbury stretched the lead back to seven, but UMW used a pair of Claire Haeuptle three pointers to again cut the deficit to two, at 60-58, with 5:38 remaining. Salisbury used a pair of baskets to return the lead to six at 64-58, but UMW responded with jumpers from Barton and Aubrey Howland to cut the score to 64-62 with 1:51 to go.
After each team came up empty from the field, Salisbury's Anna Hackett hit a three pointer with 20 seconds to push the lead to 67-62, and after an Eagle free throw, Hackett closed the scoring with a pair of free throws.
The Eagles shot a robust 52.2% from the field (24-46), making 4-11 three pointers and 11-22 free throws. Salisbury shot 42.1% from the field (24-57), with 8-23 three pointers, and made 13-15 free throws. UMW led in rebounding, 34-31, but committed 19 turnovers.
Barton led UMW with 20 points on 10-14 shooting, and also grabbed 11 rebounds. Haeuptle added 14 points and Comden 11. Hackett led all scorers with 28 points.
The Eagles will return to action on Saturday when they host Wesley College in another CAC game starting at 1 p.m.