The seventh-ranked University of Mary Washington women's basketball team dropped a 58-57 decision to Penn State-Harrisburg on Saturday afternoon in the Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles fall to 21-2 overall and 14-2 in Capital Athletic Conference play. Brianne Comden led the Eagles with 14 points and seven rebounds.
In the first quarter, the Eagles jumped to a 12-2 lead, thanks to seven points from Comden, three from Megan Green, and two from Elizabeth Dofflemyer. Harrisburg responded with an 8-1 run to end the quarter to cut the deficit to 13-10.
In the second, Harrisburg grabbed the lead at 15-14 with 4:14 left in the half, but Ashley Evans responded with a three-pointer to put the Eagles back up two.
Harrisburg answered with consecutive lay ups to take back the lead, and followed with a three-pointer to take a 22-17 advantage with 2:51 left in the half. Green and Jordan Pamlanye each knocked down a free throw and Evans hit a lay up to cut the Harrisburg lead to 22-21 at the half.
The Eagles started off the third quarter on a 7-3 run to take a 28-24 lead with 5:10 on the clock. Harrisburg scored four straight to tie the game, but Pamlanye hit a free throw to put the Eagles back up one.
Two more lead changes ensued before McKenzie Jenkins hit a three with 10 seconds left to put the Eagles up 36-33. Harrisburg hit two free throws at the end of the quarter to cut the lead to 36-35.
In the fourth, the Eagles extended their lead to five off a Megan Comer lay up and a pair of free throws from Kendall Parker. Harrisburg answered with a 9-5 run to tie the score at 44-44 with 6:49 left in the game.
Dofflemyer hit a pair of free throws to give the Eagles a 46-44 lead. The Eagles would maintain the lead until Harrisburg knocked down two free throws to take a two point lead at 51-49 with 3:53 left. Dofflemyer hit two more free throws on the next possession to knot the score at 51-51.
The two teams exchanged baskets, but then Comden hit a free throw to put the Eagles up 54-53 with 2:34 on the clock. Harrisburg followed with four free throws to go up three, until Green hit a pair with 1:51 left to cut the lead to 57-56. Jenkins hit a free throw with 44 seconds left to tie the game, but Harrisburg hit a free throw with seven seconds left to go up one. The Eagles failed to convert on a last second three-pointer that rattled in-and-out.
Comden was 5-11 from the field. Jenkins scored 11 points off the bench and Pamlanye pulled down a team-high nine boards.
Mary Washington shot 34.0% from the field (17-50), making 4-18 three-pointers and 19-33 free throws. Harrisburg shot 32.3% from the field (20-62), making 3-12 three-pointers and 15-27 free throws.
The Eagles are back in action on Wednesday at 6:00 pm as they travel to Marymount for another CAC matchup.