Senior All-American Brianne Comden scored a game-high 26 points as the eighth ranked University of Mary Washington women's basketball team avenged its only loss of the season in a 74-69 win over previously undefeated Christopher Newport University on Wednesday night before a raucous Ron Rosner Arena crowd. Both teams move to 19-1 overall and 12-1 in Capital Athletic Conference action.
The Eagles started the contest on a staggering 17-2 run, with Comden and junior Taylor Barton combining on 12 of the team's points to open the game. The Captains responded with six straight points to trim the deficit to 17-8, and the lead swung ack and forth between eight and 11 the rest of the frame, with meghan Comer hitting a three pointer at the buzzer to give UMW a 24-13 edge and momentum heading to the second.
The teams traded points to open the second. The Captains followed with a 12-2 run over the next five minutes, and cut the margin to 30-29 with 2:02 left. UMW finished strong, with Jordan Pamlanye hitting one shot and Comden two more to give UMW a 36-29 lead heading to intermission.
The game of runs continued as play opened in the third, as the Captains scored six straight to agin cut their deficit to one, at 36-35, with 8:01 left. Then the Eagles, on cue, answered with eight straight over the next 3:22, with Megan Green scoring five points in the streak. UMW led, 44-35, with 4:38 to go, and the lead swelled to 10 on a pair of Elizabeth Dofflemyer free throws with 1:33 remaining in the period. The teams traded points until the third quarter final horn, and UMW started the fourth quarter with a 55-45 advantage.
Green started the fourth with a basket, and Dofflemyer added four more points as the Eagle lead grew to 13, at 61-48, with 8:20 left. CNU answered by scoring 13 of the game's next 17 points over the next 5:50, and the score stood at 65-61 with 2:31 remaining.
UMW would connect on 5-6 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the 74-69 victory.
Comden scored a game high 26 points on 9-18 shooting, and 8-10 on free throws. Barton scored 13 on 6-7 shooting from the floor, and grabbed six rebounds. Green accounted for seven points, six assists, and seven rebounds.
UMW shot 50.0% from the field (24-48), including 4-10 on three pointers and 78.6% (22-28) from the free throw line, while CNU was held to 37.5% from the field (24-64), making 3-16 of its three point attempts and 64.3% (18-28) free throws. The Eagles outrebounded CNU, 43-29.
The Eagles will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at Frostburg State University. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. in Western Maryland.