Senior guard Katie Wimmer (Vienna, Va., James Madison) scored a game-high 24 points as the lone player in the game on either side in double figures, leading the 21st ranked University of Mary Washington women's basketball team to a 52-48 victory over Christopher Newport University on Saturday at the Anderson Center. The Eagles improve to 8-0 overall.

The Eagles were able to build a 10-point halftime lead, starting with a 7-0 run sparked by Wimmer's two layups and three pointer to assume an early 11-4 lead. CNU answered with seven straight to tie the score, but UMW scored the next five points (on a three pointer from Brieneke Matthes (Herndon, Va., Oakton) and a pair of Wimmer free throws)to hold a 20-15 edge with 8:34 left in the half. UMW then used a 13-4 run to take a game-high 13-point lead with 1:19 to go, before CNU cut the deficit to 10 by intermission.

Wimmer netted 17 points in the first half, going 5-9 from the floor and 6-6 from the free throw line. In all, UMW shot 56% (14-25) from the floor, while the Lady Captains shot 40% (10-25).

Both teams struggled offensively in the second half as the deefnses took over. CNU went 9-32 from the field (28%, but UMW managed 5-20 (25%). The Lady Captains cut the deficit to two at 38-36 with 12:41 to play, and tied the score at 40 with 8:23 left.

Freshman Aubrey Howland (Richboro, Pa., Archbishop Wood) made a layup to put UMW ahead, and Wimmer followed with a three pointer and sophomore Aby Diop (Springfield, Va., Annandale) made a pair of foul shots to push the UMW lead to six at 47-41 with 5:48 to go.

After a CNU basket, Howland made another cutting layin to give the Eagles a 49-43 lead with 1:16 to go. CNU's Jerisa Bowser made a three pointer to cut the deficit to three with 55 seconds left, but UMW made 3-4 free throws  before CNU capped the scoring with 12 seconds remaining.

Wimmer had four steals, three assists, and three rebounds, while Junior center Carol Dye (Springfield, Va., Lake Braddock) led the Eagles with seven boards and Jenna McRae (Springfield, Va., Annandale) added four assists. CNU was led by Bowser and Nicole Mitchell's nine points.

The Eagles will be back in action on December 28 when they take on Keene State College in the Louisiana Big Easy Challenge in New Orleans at noon.