RAPID REACTION: Sarah Listenbee
The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team built an eight point halftime lead, but saw visiting Christopher Newport University erupt for 40 second half points after scoring just 18 in the first to top the Eagles, 58-48, on Wednesday night at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles slip to 11-3 overall and 5-2 in Capital Athletic Conference play.
The Captains jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, leading 9-4 with 3:04 left. UMW answered with nine straight points to close the quarter, and led, 13-9, after one. Freshman guard Elizabeth Dofflemyer scored five points in the run, and junior center Brianne Comden and senior guard Megan Green each added two, with Green hitting a jumper at the buzzer.
In the second, Comden opened with a basket and Meghan Comer hit a three pointer after a pair of Captian free throws to expand UMW's lead to seven, at 18-11, with 6:19 left. The Captains scored five straight, but UMW scored six straight after that, led by six straight points from senior Sarah Listenbee, and the teams traded buckets before intermission, with UMW holding a 26-18 advantage.
CNU came out firing in the third quarter, starting the frame with a decisive 13-0 run to take the lead at 31-26, with 5:07 remaining. CNU led by six, 36-30, with 1:37 left, but late layups from Kendall Parker and McKenzie Jenkins cut the deficit to just two, at 36-34, heading to the fourth quarter.
The Captains opened the fourth with a three pointer, but Jenkins answered with a layup. Another CNU three pointer increased the lead to six,and Green hit a three point play to trim the score to 43-40 with 5:15 left. CNU used a layup and three pointer to up the lead to seven, at 48-41 with 4:17 to go.
A Listenbee jumper with 1:50 left cut the deficit to five, but UMW would come no closer, with CNU closing the game with an 8-3 advantage.
Green and Listenbee led UMW with 12 points each, with Listenbee adding 10 rebounds. Sam Porter had a game-high 13 for CNU.
The Eagles shot 29.5% from the field (18-61), going 2-13 from three point range and 10-16 from the free throw line. CNU shot 35.6% (16-45), making 3-17 three pointers and 23-31 free throws. The Eagles led in rebounds, 42-38.
Mary Washington will visit Marymount University on Saturday in another CAC showdown, starting at 2:00 p.m.