Stifling Defense Leads UMW Women to 74-35 Win Over Wesley in CAC Play

Stifling Defense Leads UMW Women to 74-35 Win Over Wesley in CAC Play

Freshman Madison Shifflett scored a game-high 17 points, and the University of Mary Washington women's basketball team limited visiting Wesley College to single digits in each of the first three quarters en route to a 74-35 victory on Wednesday night in Capital Athletic Conference play at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles improve to 4-1 in CAC play.

After an hour delay because of travel issues, the Eagles rolled out to a 19-6 first quarter advantage. Shifflett started the scoring with a three pointer, and added a pair of free throws to put UMW up, 5-0. A Meghan Comer layup advanced the lead to 7-0 before the Wolverines hit a layup. After a Wesley three, Shifflett answered with a triple of her own to build the lead to 10-5, and three pointers from Emily Miller and Comer gave the Eagles the 11-point lead at the final whistle in the first.

Senior Kendall Parker continued UMW's hot shooting outside in the second, opening with a triumvirate of three pointers, as the lead swelled to 28-10 with 5:32 left before intermission. Emily Thoompson hit a three with 3:03 left to grow the lead to 35-14, and Tory Martin and Shifflett hit layups sandwiched by a pair of Thompson free throws to give UMW a 43-17 lead at halftime.

Freshman Kayla Sakyi and junior Jordan Pamlanye hit a pair of interior shots, and a pair of Comer free throws gave UMW a 50-19 lead with 7:39 left in the third. Freshman Claire Mokarski hit a pair of baskets before another Shifflett three extended the lead to 57-25.UMW used a Martin layup and two Thompson free throws to grow the lead to 61-25 after three periods.

Five different Eagles scored to start the fourth, with Sakyi and Shifflett each adding four points as UMW led, 74-35, with 1:10 left, and the Eagles held on for the 74-35 win.

UMW shot 24-59 from the floor, making 9-20 three pointers and 17-28 free throws, while Wesley shot 12-49, including 4-18 three point tries, and went 7-18 from the free throw line. UMW controlled the glass, leading 48-35 in rebounds.

Shifflett went 5-8 from the floor, making three three pointers, and was 4-4 from the line en route to 17 points. Comer added 10 points and Parker nine for UMW.

The Eagles will return to action on Saturday when they visit Penn State Harrisburg at 1:00 p.m. in another CAC contest.