The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team overcame a seven-point deficit to start the fourth quarter to defeat Southern Virginia University on Wednesday night in Buena Vista, Va. The Eagles improve to 7-1 on the season.

In the first quarter, both defenses started quickly, as the score stood at 2-2 through the first four minutes of play. The Knights hit a three-pointer in the final minute to take a 10-8 advantage through the first quarter.

The Eagles knotted the score twice early in the second before the Knights extended a seven-point cushion, at 21-14, with 4:36 left before halftime. The Eagles scored the final seven points before the halftime horn sounded to draw to within 23-22. 

UMW jumped ahead on a basket from Jordan Carpenter to open the third quarter, and four lead changes followed. The Knights gained the lead and pulled out to a 36-28 lead after a 9-0 run midway through the third. The Eagles trailed by as many as 10 before cutting the margin to seven, 43-36, through three quarters.

A 7-0 run by UMW, capped by a Molly Sharman basket, gave the Eagles the lead at 46-45 with 5:35 remaining. The Knights hit a three-pointer with 3:18 remaining to take a 51-48 lead, but the Eagles responded with a bucket from Ashley Martin and a three-pointer form Keagan Schwab to take a 53-51 lead with 2:13 remaining. A pair of Schwab free throws gave the Eagles a 57-53 lead, and a free throw from Carpenter upped the lead to 60-55 with two seconds left. A last-second three pointer for SVU cut the final margin to 60-58.

Carpenter and Tory Martin each had 17 points to lead the Eagles, with Carpenter leading with nine rebounds. Schwab and Molly Sharman each had 10 points as well.

The Eagles shot 37.3% from the field (19-51), making 1-6 three point tries and 21-33 free throws. SVU shot 30.5% (18-59), making 6-19 three point tries, and 16-27 free throws. SVU led in rebounding, 41-34.

UMW will be back in action on Saturday when the Eagles host Marymount University at 1:00 p.m.