GREEN'S BASKET SENDS UMW TO CAC FINAL
Senior guard Megan Green scored a team-high 12 points, including all seven of the team's points in overtime, as the 19th ranked University of Mary Washington women's basketball team topped 25th ranked Marymount University, 56-54, on Thursday night in the Capital Athletic Conference semifinal at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles improve to 23-3 overall and will visit Christopher Newport University on Saturday for the CAC Championship at 2 p.m.
In a classic battle reminiscent of past battles between the league's top two traitional powers, neither team held more than a five point lead throughout the entire 45 minute game. The teams traded three point baskets to open the scoring, and Marymount followed with a pair of free throws to take a 5-3 advantage.
After a Brianne Comden free throw, Green connected on a three pointer to swing the led back to UMW at 7-5 with 3:28 left in the first quarter. Kiki Laux and Leah Hurst hit back to back jumpers for the Saints, but freshman Ashley Evans (10 points) hit a three pointer to give UMW a 10-9 advantage with 1:30 remaining in the frame. Nicole Viscuso hit a jumper for Marymount to give the visitors an 11-10 advantage after 10 minutes.
Viscuso quickly hit another basket to open the second, and the Saints built a 17-14 lead with 5:44 remaining. Evans and Comden responded with buckets to give the Eagles the lead at 19-18 with 4:07 on the clock.
After the Saints hit a pair of baskets to grab a three-point lead, Elizabeth Dofflemyer hit a three pointer for UMW to knot the score at 21 with 2:23 to go. Evans followed with another triple, and a Hurst basket for Marymount with 35 seconds left sent the teams to halftime with a 24-23 advantage for the Eagles.
After Taylor Barton's jumper extended UMW's lead to 26-23 to start the third, Marymount answered with a basket and a three pointer to take a 28-26 lead with 6:54 left. Regan Lohr followed with another basket to give Marymount the largest lead of the night at 30-26 with 6:30 left in the third.
The teams swapped free throws, and McKenzie Jenkins scored on a Kendall Parker assist to cut the deficit to 32-30 with 4:40 left. After a Laux basket gave the Saints a 34-30 edge, Barton hit a pair of free throws for UMW. Regan Lohr hit a three to give the Saints a 37-32 lead with 2:43 remaining, but UMW outscored MU, 4-1, to close the third, and Marymount carried a 38-36 lead to the fourth quarter.
Green hit a pair of free throws to tie the score, and after the Saints scored four of the next six points, Meghan Comer hit a three pointer to give UMW the lead back at 43-42. After the teams swapped baskets, Dofflemyer hit a spinning layup to run UMW's lead to 47-44 with 5:24 remaining.
Hurst answered with a three pointer for the Saints to knot the score yet again at 47-47 with 3:37 to play in regulation. After the Saints grabbed the lead with 2:23 left, Comden scored inside to tie the score at 49. After a pair of turnovers, Marymount's last second chance fell short, and the game advanced to overtime.
Lohr opened the extra frame with a three pointer to give Marymount a 52-49 lead with 3:25 left. Green hit one free throw, and two more after a turnover, tying the score at 52-52 with 2:13 remaining. Green then gave UMW the lead with a layup with 1:17 on the clock, but Lohr answered with a layup in transition with 1:11 showing.
Each side would miss a jumper before Green drove the lane with two seconds left to score the game winner.
Green led the Eagles with 12 points, while Evans scored 10. Comden had nine points and 10 rebounds to pace UMW, while Barton collected eight caroms. Lohr led Marymount with 15 points.
The Eagles made 19-51 shots (37.3%), making 6-19 three point attempts and 12-16 free throws. Marymount shot 33.6% from the field (22-60), making 5-13 three point tries and 5-9 free throws. UMW held a 39-35 rebounding edge.
In the epic contest, there were nine ties and 14 lead changes.
UMW will visit Christopher Newport for the CAC title on Saturday at 2 p.m. The teams split their regular season matchups, with each team winning on their home court. The winner will gain an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament next weekend.