RAPID REACTION: Elizabeth Dofflemyer and Brianne Comden
Junior center Brianne Comden was the game's lone player in double figures with 17 points as the University of Mary Washington women's basketball team defeated Salisbury University, 52-36, in a rematch of last year's Capital Athletic Conference championship on Saturday at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles improve to 11-2 overall, and 5-1 in CAC action.
After the Sea Gulls started the scoring, the rest of the first quarter was all Eagles, as UMW outscored Salisbury, 16-4, in the frame. Elizabeth Dofflemyer hit a layup and Comden added a three-point play to give the Eagles a 5-2 advantage, and a Kendall Parker three pointer upped the advantage to 8-3 with 3:35 left in the first, and started a 11-1 run to close the quarter. Comden hit two baskets in the run, and McKenzie Jenkins one.
In the second, the Sea Gulls cut the deficit to 11, at 18-7, with 7:18 left, but UMW scored six straight, including baskets from Parker and Meghan Comer, and a pair of free throws from Megan Green, to up the advantage to 17, at 24-7, with 5:02 remaining before intermission.
Parker hit a jumper with 1:58 left to stem the tide, and the Eagles led, 26-12, at halftime. UMW held a 14-2 advantage on points in the paint in the frame.
Green started the third quarter with a three pointer, as the Eagles built the lead to 20 points on a Sarah Listenbee bucket with 6:53 left. Sophomore Taylor Barton followed with a pair of baskets to grow the lead to 40-17 with 4:32 left.
After Salisbury scored six straight, the Eagles and Comden scord the final four points of the quarter, and UMW entered the fourth with a 44-24 lead.
In the fourth, Comden and Listenbee opened with baskets, but Salisbury answered each time, and cut the deficit to 16, at 48-32, with 3:12 remaining. In the waning minutes, Comden and Dofflemyer connected, and te Eagles ended with a 52-36 win.
UMW shot 35.1% from the floor (20-57), making 2-10 three pointers and 10-11 free throws. Salisbury shot 24.5% (12-49) and went 0-7 on three pointers and 12-21 on free throws. The Eagles forced 22 turnovers, while the Sea Gulls held a 41-36 edge in rebounding.
Comden made 7-12 shots and 3-3 free throws en route to 17 points. Dofflemyer and Barton each had seven rebounds to lead UMW. Kylyn French led Salisbury with seven points and 14 rebounds.
Mary Washington will host Christopher Newport on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in another CAC showdown. The first 50 fans at both games on Wednesday will receive a free UMW sport bottle.