The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team dropped a 72-50 decision at second-ranked Christopher Newport University on Saturday afternoon, 72-50, in Newport News, Va. The Eagles slip to 14-5 on the season.

Both teams came to play, as evidenced by the lights-out shooting in the first quarter on both sides. After the Eagles opened the scoring, CNU scored seven straight to open an early lead. The Eagles trailed by seven, at 13-6, with 5:18 left in the first, but layups from Ashley Martin and Sydney Sherman cut the deficit to 13-10 with 4:10 remaining. A Bri Harper basket followed, and the Eagles were down just one, at 13-12. 

The Captains again took a lead in the following minutes, leading by as many as eight, at 20-12 with 2:51 to go, but again the Eagles rallied, scoring six straight on three pointers from Harper and Keagan Schwab to pull to within 20-18 with 1:06 left in the first. Schwab hit the final shot of the quarter after two CNU baskets, and the game stood at 24-20 after ten minutes played.

The story of the game would be the second quarter, when the Captains outscored UMW, 20-4. The Eagles struggled from the field, going 2-14 in the quarter, while CNU shot 50%, at 9-18.

Never saying die, the Eagles responded in the third by outscoring the second-ranked Captains, 13-12. Defense was the key for the Eagles in the frame, as they limited CNU to 5-18 shooting (27.8%). In the fourth the Eagles were outscored 16-13, setting up the 72-50 final.

Sophomore Jordan Carpenter led Mary Washington with 15 points, including a 9-12 effort from the free throw line, and also added a game-high 13 rebounds for a double double. Schwab had 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

For the day, UMW shot 33.1% (18-54), making 3-12 three-point attempts and 11-18 free throws. CNU shot 44.2% (30-28), making 6-24 three point attempts and 6-11 free throws. 

The Eagles will return to action on Wednesday, when they visit Randolph-Macon College at 6:00 p.m.