The 21st/24th ranked University of Mary Washington women's basketball team dropped its 2017-18 season opener to Washington & Lee University on Wednesday night at Ron Rosner Arena. The loss snaps a six-game win streak for the Eagles in their season opener.
The Eagles built a lead steadily through the first quarter, as four points from senior Taylor Barton and a basket from freshman Tory Martin gave UMW a 6-2 lead early. The lead grew to seven with a three pointer from junior Meghan Comer, and a jumper from freshman Corrianna Calloway upped UMW's lead to 13-5 with 2:55 left in the first. An Ashlee Warren basket gave the Eagles a 15-5 advantage, before the Generals responded with the last six points of the frame, and UMW led, 15-11, after 10 minutes.
In the second quarter, The Generals turned the ball over seven times, but the Eagles couldn't capitalize, going cold from the floor. After a Generals three pointer cut the deficit to one to start the proceedings, Martin hit a pair of baskets to build a 21-16 Eagle edge with 7:18 remaining. Washington & Lee again trimmed the deficit to one at 21-20, and the Eagles led at intermission, 23-21.
After W&L scored the first five points of the third quarter to take their first lead, a jumper from Barton trimmed the deficit to 26-25. The Generals led, 32-28, with 3:04 left, but a 9-0 run, keyed by seven points from freshman Madison Shifflett, gave the Eagles a five-point lead at 37-32 with 1:29 to play. A jumper from Barton closed the scoring at the buzzer, with the Eagles taking a 41-34 lead into the fourth.
The Eagles quickly got into foul trouble in the fourth, and Washington & Lee visited the free throw line early and often down the stretch, making 12-19 free throws in the final 10 minutes. Five straight General points started the frame, but the Eagles responded with an 8-1 run, with four points each from Comer and Martin. UMW led, 49-40, with 5:07 left. The Generals then went on a decisive 15-0 run, including a 7-7 run from the charity stripe.
Shifflett shot 5-10 from the floor and made all three of her free throw tries en route to a team-high 13 points, and also grabbed five rebounds. Barton shot 5-5 from the floor to provide 12 points and added a team-high six rebounds. Martin made 5-6 shots to provide 11 points to go with four boards.
UMW shot 22-54 from the field, making 1-14 three point attempts and 10-17 free throws. Washington & Lee shot 17-52 from the field, making 3-17 three point tries, and made 23-33 free throws. The Generals led in rebounds, 40-33, and each team committed 17 turnovers.
The Eagles will return to action on Friday when they host Virginia Wesleyan College at 7 p.m. as part of the Hyatt Place Tipoff Tournament, with gettysburg College facing Lehman College at 5 p.m.