Senior guard Bri Harper scored a team-high 15 points off the bench to lift the University of Mary Washington women's basketball team to a 64-61 victory over Widener University on Monday at the Moravian Steel City Classic. The Eagles, who overcame an early nine-point deficit, improve to 13-1 on the season and run their win streak to eight straight.

Widener opened the game on a 7-0 run, as the Eagles failed to reach the scoreboard in the opening five minutes. The Eagles trailed, 13-2, with an Ashley Martin layup, and Karissa Highlander cut the margin to 13-4 with a basket with 1:56 remaining. Sydney Sherman and Adeline Riner each hit baskets to close the period, with the Eagles in a nine-point hole, 17-8.

The second quarter saw the Eagles "flip the switch", and the offense rebounded from its slow start with 23 points. Harper quickly got the Eagles back to within striking distance, with a pair of three pointers to cut the deficit to 17-14 in the opening minute. Riner hit a pair of baskets and Harper hit another triple to push the run to 13-0 and give UMW a 21-17 lead with 7:07 left before halftime.

Baskets from Highlander and Keagan Schwab and a three from senior Tory Martin extended UMW's lead to 28-21 with 4:52 to go. Widener closed the gap to 31-27 with a pair of late free throws, and the Eagles carried a four-point lead to halftime.

A pair of Jordan Carpenter free throws and an Ashley Martin basket pushed the Eagle lead to 35-27 with 1:07 elapsed in the third. Widener closed the gap to three points on several occasions, but a bucket from Ashley Martin with 5:30 left put the Eagle lead back to seven, at 43-36, and another big three from Harper pushed the Eagle advantage to 48-43 with 1:55 to go. Widener scored the last three points of the quarter to trim the Eagle lead to 48-46 entering the fourth quarter.

Widener continued its run to start the fourth, scoring the first seven points in taking a 53-48 advantage. Ashley Martin and Highlander scored baskets to trim the margin to 53-52, and a layup from senior Thora Gibbs gave the Eagles the lead, 56-55, with 4:00 left. Widener answered to regain the lead, but Harper hit another triple to give UMW a 59-57 advantage. Widener answered with two scores to take a 61-59 lead, but the Eagles used a 5-0 run to end the game for the win. Ashley Martin used a traiditional three point play to put the Eagles on top for good, and Jordan Carpenter added a pair of free throws for the final margin.

Harper made 5-7 shots, all three pointers, en route to 15 points in 22 minutes, and Ashley Martin scored 11, going 5-11 from the field. Riner had nine points and six rebounds, and Highlander added seven points and six boards.

The Eagles will visit Stevenson University on Monday at 6:00 p.m.