The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team shot 59.2% from the floor and saw four players reach double figures in a 77-56 victory at Penn State-Harrisburg on Saturday afternoon in Capital Athletic Conference action. The Eagles move to 8-7 on the season, and 2-2 in CAC play.
The Eagles jumped out to a 6-2 lead, thanks to a pair of early Tory Martin baskets. After a pair of lions three pointers gave them an 8-6 edge, UMW scored seven straight to take a 13-8 lead with 4:02 remaining on an Erika Carter layup. Carter capped the first quarter scoring with another basket to give the Eagles a 21-16 lead after 10 minutes.
In the second, baskets from Kayla Sakyi and Emily Thompson lifted the Eagle lead to 25-16 with 7:06 remaining, but the Lions stuck around with a pair of three pointers to trim the margin with 4:39 left. Thompson followed with a three pointer and then a four-point play, and a Thora Gibbs basket upped the lead to 34-22. Harrisburg connected on a pair of free throws to draw to within nine, at 36-27, at intermission.
A 9-2 run by the Lions cut the third quarter score to 38-36 with 6:40 remaining, but Gibbs and Carter made consecutive baskets to extend the margin to six. The Lions continued to hit enough long range shots to stay close, but a 6-0 run capped by a Martin layup gave UMW a 51-42 advantage with 1:23 left in the third. The Lions made a pair of free throws to move to within 51-44 entering the fourth quarter.
The offense continued to click in the final frame, scoring 26 points in the final 10 minutes. The Lions hit a layup with 6:36 left to draw to within four, at 56-52, but from there, the Eagles finished on a 21-4 run. Thompson and Sakyi each scored eight in the rally.
UMW shot 59.2% from the field (29-49), making 5-9 three point tries and 14-23 free throws. Harrisburg shot 34.5% (19-55), making 13-40 three point tries and 5-7 free throws. UMW dominated the boards, leading 42-19 in rebounds.
Thompson led the Eagles with 18 points, while Carter scored 15 and Martin and Sakyi each netted 13. Carter led with 10 rebounds in gaining the double double.
The Eagles will return to action on Wednesday when they visit St. Mary's College at 6 p.m. in another CAC tilt.