Senior center Brianne Comden scored a career high 31 points as the 12th ranked University of Mary Washington women's basketball team pulled away with a 27-point effort in the fourth quarter in downing Wesley College, 72-61, on Saturday at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles improve to 15-0 overall, and 8-0 in Capital Athletic Conference action.
The offensive fireworks began in the first quarter, as the Eagles built a six-point lead. Comden scored nine in the frame, including the Eagles' first four. After a Taylor Barton free throw and layup, the Eagle advantage swelled to five on a Comden layup with 5:16 left, 9-4.
But the Eagles couldn't shake the Wolverines, as Wesley hit 3-5 three pointers in the frame, en route to 8-16 for the game. Wesley trimmed the margin to one at 14-13 with 2:48 left, but UMW scored the final five points of the quarter to take a 19-13 lead to the second.
The next quarter started with a Wesley basket, but sophomore McKenzie Jenkins hit a three pointer to give UMW a seven-point lead, at 22-15. Wesley cut the deficit to two, at 24-22, with 5:50 remaining, but Comden answered with a pair of baskets sandwiched with a Megan Green bucket, and the lead returned to eight for UMW, at 32-24, with 2:20 left. Wesley hit the final four points, however, and UMW's lead stood at four, 32-28, at halftime.
Comden started the third with a pair of baskets to return the lead to eight, but Wesley scored seven straight to cut the score to 36-35 with 6:36 remaining. Barton and Green hit baskets to push the Eagle lead to 40-35, but Wesley answered with eight of the next 10 points of the game to take a 43-42 lead with 1:05 left. Junior Kendall Parker hit a three pointer with 18 seconds left, and the Eagles led, 45-43, entering the fourth quarter.
The first five minutes of the fourth was a back-and-forth battle that saw six lead changes and four ties, with UMW using a three pointer from sophomore Elizabeth Dofflemyer with 4:53 left to take a 58-57 lead.
After a Parker three upped the lead to four, Wesley converted a three point play to cut the lead to 61-60. But the Eagles found the final and decisive run, outscoring the Wolverines, 11-1, down the stretch, kickstarted by a four-point play from Parker, followed by another triple, and a pair of Comden baskets as she ecliped her career high, which was 28, and came her freshman season.
Comden went 14-20 from the floor, and 3-3 from the free throw line, and also chipped in with a team-high eight rebounds. Parker scored 13 off the bench, going 4-9 on threes.
UMW shot 50.9% from the field (29-57), including 6-19 on three point tries and 8-10 form the foul line. Wesley shot 41.1% from the field (23-56), making 8-16 three point attempts and 7-10 free throws. The Eagles held a 32-28 rebounding edge.
The Eagles will be back in action on Wednesday night when they visit sixth ranked Christopher Newport University, who is also 15-0 on the season, in what is believed to be the first matchup of 15-0 teams in league history. Tipoff is set for 5:30 in Newport News.