Junior guard Sam Partonen scored a game-high 21 points to lead the University of Mary Washington women's basketball team to a 56-50 win over Hartwick College on Wednesday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. as part of the Cruzin Classic. The Eagles improve to 8-3 on the season.

The Eagles started strong from the perimeter, making four of their first five three-point attempts, and led, 16-8, with 9:08 remaining in the first half. Hartwick responded with an 8-0 run to tie the score, but the Eagles were able to cling to a one-point lead at intermission, at 22-21.

Hartwick opened the second half by cutting into the lead, and raced to a six-point advantage at 38-32 with 8:55 remaining. But a pair of Amanda Witmer jumpers and a layin from junior Aby Diop tied the score, and Partonen gave the Eagles the lead for good with a three-pointer with 5:55 left.

The Eagles led by as many as nine, at 51-42, with 44 seconds left, before settling on the six-point win. In addition to Partonen's 21 points, Diop added 11 points and nine rebounds, and freshman guard Erin Drumheller added a career-high nine points. Hartwick was led by Kate Purcell's 14.

The Eagles will return to action on January 5 when they host Wesley College at the Anderson Center at 1:00 p.m. in Capital Athletic Conference action.