The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team fell to Salisbury University, 55-49, on Wednesday evening. The Eagles slip to 17-8 overall, and finish the CAC regular season 6-4. Tory Martin led the team with 13 points.
Salisbury got on the board first, going on an 8-point run. UMW got on the board after a 3-point shot by Emily Thompson. Ashley Martin would bring the Eagles within 2 after netting a pair of free throws to bring the score to 5-8. The Seagulls would then extend their lead to 14-5 before Bri Harper would add her first points of the game off a 3-pointer. SU would add a free throw in the final seconds to give the Seagulls an 15-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
SU started the second quarter on the board first but UMW quickly took control. Martin would add two more points to the board after a set of free throws and then adding a layup. Harper would add her second 3-point basket of the night to bring the Eagles within two. The Eagles would tie the game up after Tory Martin connected on a layup. For the first time of the game, the Eagles would take the lead off of a Harper layup. SU would quickly tie the game at 19-19 but UMW would then go on a 7-point run that included a 3-point basket by Maddie Shifflett to take the Eagles into halftime with a 28-19 lead.
The Seagulls would get third quarter started but Molly Sharman would respond with a basket. SU would then go on an 11-point run to retake the lead. Sharman quickly tied the game back up with another basket but the Seagulls would add five more points before the end of the quarter to take a 37-32 lead going into the final quarter.
The final quarter started with 3 points by SU but Tory Martin would take over after adding two baskets and four free throws to leave the Eagles down by two. The Seagulls would sink a 3-pointer to extend their lead to four. Free throws made by Martin and Thompson followed by another basket by Martin put the Eagles within one. Two free throws by SU in the final seconds would give Salisbury the win.
The Eagles will be the second seed in the CAC Tournament which begins this weekend. UMW won a coin toss over York, and will host the winner of Saturday's contest between York and St. Mary's next Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in semifinal action.