RAPID REACTION: COMDEN AND PARKER
Junior center Brianne Comden tied a career high with 28 points, including the 1,000th of her career, to lead the University of Mary Washington women's basketball team to a 78-48 win over St. Mary's College on Tuesday in Capital Athletic Conference Tournament first round action at Ron Rosner Arena.
The Seahawks hung close through the first quarter. After St. Mary's opened the scoring, UMW scored 11 straight points, including six points from Comden. The Seahawks scored three points on free throws to cut the deficit to six, and ended the quarter with a layup and three pointer to cut the score to 13-10 after one period.
St. Mary's scored the first three points of the second to tie the score at 13-13, but the Eagles answered with a jumper from Comden and three pointer from Megan Green to take a five point lead at 18-13 with 6:30 left in the second frame.
The lead grew to 10 after a Kendall Parker three pointer and Taylor Barton jumper with 2:41 remaining. UMW ended the half with two Comden baskets and a Parker three to take a 34-18 lead to halftime.
Comden quickly scored two baskets to open the third to raise the lead to 20, 40-20. After a Seahawk basket, Comden connected a pair of free throws to surpass the 1,000-point plateau, becoming the 18th player in program history to surpass the milestone.
A 12-0 run propelled the lead to 30 at 52-22 with 3:34 left in the third, but SMC scored seven straight to cut into the margin. Parker closed the quarter with another three, giving UMW a 59-31 lead entering the final quarter.
Parker connected on another three to start the fourth, as the lead swung between 29 and 33 until the final horn, with the Eagles finishing with a 30-point margin of victory.
Comden scored 28 points on 11-14 shooting from the floor and 6-7 from the free throw line. Parker scored 18 points on 5-7 shooting, making 5-6 three pointers.Barton led UMW with nine rebounds.
The Eagles shot a robust 56.% from the field (28-50), making 6-8 three pointers and 16-22 free throws. St. Mary's shot 27.5% from the field (14-51), with 2-11 on three pointers and 18-29 free throws. UMW led in rebounding, 37-28.
Mary Washington will visit second seeded Christopher Newport University on Thursday in semifinal action. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. from Newport News.