Junior center Brianne Comden scored 25 points and sophomore Kendall Parker added 14 to lead the University of Mary Washington women's basketball team to a 60-36 victory at St. Mary's College on Wednesday night in Capital Athletic Conference action. The Eagles improve to 17-3 on the season, and 11-2 in CAC play.
The Eagles started with Comden and shophomore Taylor Barton each contributing a pair of post baskets to take an 8-6 lead with 3:31 left in the first quarter. Comden then added two more buckets in the final minute to give the Eagles a 12-8 advantage after one.
The Seahawks responded in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to one, at 14-13, with 5:55 remaining until halftime. But senior guard Megan Green answered with a pair of three point baskets to raise the Eagles advantage to 20-13 with 4:29 left.
Once again, SMC responded with a run of six straight points - four from the foul line - and cut the margin to 20-19 with 2:38 remaining. The teams traded free throws in the final minute, as the Eagles held a 22-21 lead at halftime.
The Eagles found a higher gear after halftime. After the Seahawks opened the third with a basket to take the lead, UMW scored eight straight, including six from Comden, to reclaim a 30-23 lead with 5:54 left in the quarter. Comden added a pair of baskets, and Parker and Green each hit three pointers, as the Eagles rallied to take a 40-28 lead with 2:10 to go in the third. Parker closed the frame with another triple, giving UMW a 43-30 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Parker put the matter out of reach early, hitting back to back three pointers to swell the margin to 49-30 with 7:16 left. After St. Mary's connected for a three pointer, freshman Elizabeth Dofflemyer responded with one for the Eagles, kickstarting a 9-0 run that raised the margin to 58-33 with 3:31 remaining. Comden connected for a pair of free throws to run the final to 60-36.
Comden went 9-15 from the floor and 7-8 from the free throw line for her 25 points, and added six rebounds. Parker shot 4-6 from three point range. Green had nine points, eight rebounds, and five assists, and Dofflemyer added nine rebounds. Nina Haller and Kerri Kline led St. Mary's with 14 points apiece.
UMW shot 34.5% from the field (20-58), making 8-22 three pointers and 12-19 free throws. St. Mary's shot 22.4% (11-49) from the field, making 2-14 three pointers and 12-14 free throws. The Eagles led, 44-35, in rebounding, and UMW had 27 points off turnovers and 22 in the paint.
The Eagles will be back in action Saturday when they visit Salisbury University at 2:00 p.m. in another CAC contest on Maryland's Eastern shore.