The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team dropped a 74-68 double overtime decision at 18th ranked Salisbury University on Saturday afternoon in the 2015 Capital Athletic Conference championship. The Eagles fall to 20-7 on the season.
The Eagles opened the game by edging ahead early, taking a 13-5 lead through the first 8:30. Brianne Comden and Sarah Listenbee each connect for a pair of baskets, and Claire Haeuptle and Kendall Parker each connected for three pointers in the run.
The turnover bug hit the Eagles, as Salisbury edged back with a 9-0 run, taking the lead at 14-13 with 6:16 remaining. A three pointer from Megan Green and a Listenbee jumper gave UMW an 18-14 lead with 5:19 left, and a Haeuptle three pointer gave the Eagles a 25-17 lead with 2:17 remaining.
The lead remained at eight until Salisbury closed the half with a pair of free throws, and UMW led, 29-23, at intermission.
The Sea Gulls opened the second half with a three pointer from Anna Hackett, as part of her game-high 26 points. A pair of Comden free throws returned the Eagle lead to five, but Salisbury scored six straight to regain the lead at 32-31 with 14:47 to play.
After a Listenbee free throw, the Sea Gulls scored seven straight points to take a 39-32 lead with 13:16 to play. With the score at 43-36 with9:42 to go, the Eagles answered, scoring five straight, including three free throws from Haeuptle, to cut the deficit to 43-41, with 8:32 on the clock.
The Eagles tied the score at 47-47 on a Listenbee basket with 6:58 left, and the lead changed hands with three more ties over the next three minutes. Four free throws from Caitlin Ciniero gave UMW a 56-52 advantage with 40 seconds left, and after a Salisbury basket, another Ciniero free throw gave UMW a three-point lead.
The Eagles fouled a Salisbury three point attempt with 15 seconds left, and Melanie Mocniak connected on all three free throws, and the Eagles' last shot was blocked amongst traffic in the paint to send the game to overtime.
Listenbee and Ciniero opened the first extra peiod with baskets to build UMW's lead to 61-57 with 3:45 left, but Mocniak answered with a three pointer to cut the deficit to one, at 61-60. Ciniero scored again to give the Eagles a 63-60 lead, but again Mocniak was fouled while attempting a three pointer, and again she made all three free throws with 26 seconds left to tie the score.
UMW quickly scored on a pair of Haeuptle free throws with 13 seconds left, but Salisbur forced another extra peiod with a layup with five seconds left. After Haeuptle opened the second extra frame with a three pointer, Salisbury closed the game with nine straight points for the title.
The Eagles shot 21-64 from the floor (32.8%), making 5-16 three pointers and 21-28 free throws. Salisbury shot 25-76 (32.9%), with 8-24 three pointers and 16-19 free throws. The Eagles controlled the boards with a 55-42 rebounding advantage.
Haeuptle led the Eagles with 18 points, and Listenbee and Ciniero each scored 15, with Ciniero adding nine rebounds, and Listenbee seven. Comden led all players with 14 rebounds.