Junior forward Jordan Carpenter scored a team-high 16 points and hauled in 10 rebounds to lead four players in double figures, as the 25th ranked University of Mary Washington women's basketball team topped North Carolina Wesleyan College, 72-58, on Wednesday evening in Rocky Mount, N.C. The Eagles improve to 10-1 on the season.
The Battling Bishops jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage, but a pair of Carpenter baskets got the Eagles even at 7-7 with 4:32 remaining in the first. After the Eagles gained the lead on a Sydney Sherman basket, N.C. Wesleyan closed the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 15-9 lead to the second.
The second quarter was evenly played and back-and-forth throughout, with the Eagles unable to draw closer, but the Bishops unable to grow ther lead. A jumper from senior Molly Sharan capped the quarter to draw UMW to within 26-22 at halftime.
The Eagle offense kicked in high gear in the second two quarters, scoring 25 in each frame. UMW scored the first six points of the third, senior Ashley Martin netting a pair of baskets, as the Eagles regained the lead at 28-26. The lead changed hands several times before Keagan Schwab, Carpenter, and Sharman reeled off six straight points to grow the lead to 38-31. N.C. Wesleyan cut the deficit to 40-39, before the Eagles scored seven straight to close the third, and take a 47-39 lead to the final 10 minutes.
In the fourth, the Bishops drew as close as to four points at 53-49 with 5:34 left, before sophomore Adeline Riner netted five points to key a 7-0 UMW run. The Eagles connected on 6-6 free throw attempts in the final two minutes for the 14-point win.
Carpenter had 16 points on 7-12 shooting from the floor, and Schwab and Riner each netted 14. Martin scored 10.
UMW shot 43.5% from the field (27-62), making 2-12 three point attempts and 16-23 free throws. N.C. Wesleyan shot 35.3% (18-51), connecting on 2-9 three point tries and 20-27 free throws. Rebounds were even at 38-38, and the Eagles forced 21 turnovers.
The Eagles will return to action on December 29 when they visit Johns Hopkins University at 5:00 p.m.