The University of Mary Washingotn women's basketball team jumped out to a 20-11 after one quarter, and cruised to a 73-37 victory over Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday in the championship game of the Hyatt Place Tipoff Tournament at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles improve to 3-1 on the season.
Junior forward Tory Martin jumpstarted the Eagles in the first, scoring eight points. The Eagles steadily built upon their lead as a basket and three pointer from junior Maddie Shifflett built the lead to 29-15 midway through the second quarter. Shifflett continued to excel with a basket and free throw to push the margin to 32-15, and an Ashley Martin jumped pushed the lead beyond 20 points with 1:10 left before halftime. Martin continued her hot shooting in the third, connecting for eight points, as the Eagles built a 54-31 lead after three periods.
The Eagle defense stole the show in the fourth, limiting the Marlins to six points while netting 19 on the offensive end.
Tory Martin led the Eagles with 16 pointson 6-13 shooting from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line, and hauled in a team-high nine rebounds. Shifflett scored 13 points on 4-9 shooting from the field, and Ashley Martin and classmate Molly Sharman each scored 10 in the contest.
The Eagles shot 27-67 from the floor (40.3%), making 4-14 three point baskets and 15-17 free throws. Virginia Wesleyan shot 13-44 from the field (29.5%), making 3-13 three point tries and 8-15 free throws. The Eagles held a 49-31 advantage in rebounding.
Shifflett was named the Tournament MVP, and was joined on the all-tournament team by Ashley Martin.
UMW will return to action on Wednesday when the Eagles host Johns Hopkins University at 6:00 p.m.