YORK, PA – The York College women's basketball team extended its win streak to seven with a 62-45 Capital Athletic Conference win over St. Mary's College on Wednesday night in York. The Spartans improve to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference while the Seahawks fall to 2-6 overall and 1-1 in the league.
The Spartans were paced by sophomore forward Kristen Haley as the reigning CAC Rookie-of-the-Year tied in her career high with 23 points while she also pulled in a game-high 11 rebounds. The double-double is Haley's second of the year and ninth of her career. Haley finished the night 8-for-14 from the floor including 1-for-2 from three. She also drilled all six of her attempts from the line.
The game started with both teams converting at an impressive clip on the offensive end of the floor. The teams were a combined 11-for-11 from the field to start the game. Fortunately for York, they got off to another quick start as the Spartans sprinted out to a 13-6 lead. Haley tallied York's first five points followed by a pair of Kelsey Murphy threes. Haley capped the opening run with a lay up at the 17:16 mark.
The Seahawks battled back to take an 18-17 lead on a Marche Pearson jumper at the 11:26 mark of the first half. The teams traded baskets before York took the lead for good on a pair of Brittany Hicks free throws with 7:48 remaining in the opening half. The Spartan lead grew to five before York settled for the 30-27 lead at the break.
The Green and White roared out of the half as Hicks hit a lay up and Haley had a three point play as York quickly pushed the lead to eight only two minutes into the half. St. Mary's trimmed the Spartan lead to four twice over the next four minutes but York blitzed the visitors with a 15-2 run to turn a close game into a 17-point lead for York. St. Mary's would not get closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Murphy was the other Spartan in double figures with 10 points in her 30 minutes of action. Hicks chipped in with nine points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists while senior April Sparkman had six points, seven rebounds, and four assists for the Spartans.
Shana Lewis led the Seahawks with 17 points while she also had two rebounds, two steals and two assists. Lewis was 7-for-10 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the line. Pearson was the other Seahawk in double figures with 12 points and five rebounds.
The Spartans limited the Seahawks to just 31.5% shooting from the floor including just 1-for-13 from three. York has now held five of their eight opponents to under 32% shooting in a game. For the season, York's opponents are shooting just 32.6% from the floor and 28.9% from three.
York finished the game shooting 42% from the floor while they went 4-for-12 (33.3%) from three. York shot 72.7% (16-for-22) from the free throw line.
York dominated the game on the glass, outrebounding St. Mary's 43-28 in the game. The Spartans finished the game with a 10-2 edge in second-chance points. The Green and White struggled to take care of the ball in the first half as they committed 16 turnovers. The Seahawks didn't make York pay for the miscues as they managed just six points off the Spartan turnovers. York finished the game with 21 turnovers while St. Mary's had 16 miscues in the game.
The Spartans conclude their fall semester portion of the schedule on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Frostburg State University to face the Bobcats in a conference contest. Tip time in western Maryland is set for 1:00 pm.