Senior Brianne Comden scored a game-high 20 points, and classmate Megan Green added 14 to pace the ninth ranked University of Mary Washington women's basketball team to a 66-60 victory over York College (Pa.) on Saturday evening at Rosner Arena. The Eagles improve to 16-1 overall and 9-1 in Capital Athletic Conference action.
York jumped ahead in the first quarter, as the Eagles struggled to get started offensively. York grabbed a quick 6-2 lead, but a pair of Comden baskets tied the score at six at 5:44 left in the quarter. Trailing 7-6, York scored six straight to take a 12-7 advantage with 2:46 to go, and the lead swelled to 17-9 with 1:41 on the clock. After a Comden three-point play, the teams traded free throws to push the score to 19-13 after 10 minutes.
The Spartans started the second quarter with a three pointer and free throw to build a nine-point lead at 22-13, but UMW answered with six straight, including layups from Kelsey Dean and Elizabeth Dofflemyer, to cut the deficit to 22-19 with 7:04 left.
York responded with a pair of three pointers and another basket to lead by 11, 30-19, with 5:04 left. The Spartans led by 10 with seven seconds left, but a jumper from Green at the buzzer seemed to give UMW life at intermission, although trailing 35-27.
The teams traded three point plays to start the third quarter, and the Eagles followed with an Elizabeth Dofflemyer three pointer and Comden basket to trim the score to 38-35 with 5:40 left. The Eagles completed the comeback by tying the score at 45-45 with 56 second left, and a pair of Taylor Barton free throws swung the lead to UMW at 47-46 after three periods.
The early going in the fourth quarter was entertaining, as the teams tied on the scoreboard four times with six lead changes through the first 6:27 of action. Green had a three pointer as well as an "and one" three point play to keep the Eagles in the lead.
UMW's decisive run came with 2:37 left, as a Green layup started a 6-0 run. Sophomore Jordan Pamlanye connected on a pair of free throws and Barton converted a bucket as well. York made a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left to cut the margin to 64-60, but McKenzie Jenkins hit a pair of free throws to cap the scoring.
Comden shot 7-14 from the field and 6-10 from the line en route to her 20 points, while Green went 5-7 from the field and made all three of her free throws. Dofflemyer scored nine points and collected 12 rebounds and four assists.
UMW shot 37.5% from the field (18-48), making 2-9 three point tries and 28-39 free throws, while York shot 31.4% (16-51), making 6-20 three point attempts and 22-42 free throws. UMW held a 44-42 rebounding edge.
The Eagles will return to action on Wednesday night when they host Southern Virginia University at 6:00 p.m.