The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team dropped a 64-51 decision to York College of Pa. on Wednesday night in a Capital Athletic Conference semifinal at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles move to 17-9 on the year.
Junior forward Tory Martin got the Eagles started early as she scored the first five points to help UMW take a 5-3 lead just 56 seconds into the game. York took the lead 10-8, but a Molly Sharman layup tied the game with 5:22 to play in the first. The Spartans closed the first quarter on a 9-3 run to take a 19-13 advantage.
UMW scored the first five points of the second quarter as Emily Thompson knocked down a three-pointer and then Martin scooped home a layup. Sharman gave UMW a 23-22 lead as she drained a three-pointer with five minutes to play in the quarter. A Jordan Lee jumper and Ashley Martin made three-pointer gave the Eagles a 30-28 lead with just under three minutes to play. UMW was held scoreless for the rest of the quarter and York scored the last four points to take a 32-30 lead at the half.
York added to its lead to start the third with a three pointer, Martin answered with a basket, but another Spartan three upped its margin to 38-32. After the teams traded baskets, layups from Faith St. Clair and Molly Sharman cut the deficit to 40-38 with 4:02 left in the third. Three Spartan points extended the lead, but a late basket from Jordan Lee trimmed the margin to 43-40 heading to the fourth quarter.
The score stood at 43-40 for the first 2:45, before York connected on a pair of free throws. After another Spartan basket, Thompson hit another three pointer to cut the deficit to 47-43 with 5:33 remaining. Free throws from Bri Harper and Tory Martin cut the deficit to one, at 47-46 with 4:33 left. The teams exchanged three pointers before York sank 11 of 14 free throws in the final 2:21 to pull away to victory.
Martin led the Eagles with 15 points on 4-7 shooting, while Sharman added 11. The Eagles shot 18-51 from the floor (35.3%), making 5-19 three point tries and 10-15 free throws. York shot 18-42 (42.9%), making 9-20 three pointers and 19-26 free throws. York held a 34-32 edge in rebounding.