Frederick, Md. – Three Seahawks scored in double figures as the St. Mary's College of Maryland women's basketball posted a 72-58 Capital Athletic Conference victory over Hood College Monday night to sweep the season series. The game was played at Frederick Community College.
First-year guard Aura Payne (Glen Burnie, Md./Severn) recorded a near double-double with season-bests of 14 points and nine rebounds while sophomore guard Pui Sham (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) tallied 15 points as Sham went four-of-five from downtown, adding four boards, two assists, and two steals. Senior forward Jamie Roberts (Rockville, Md./Barrie) scored 14 points as well and grabbed four caroms.
St. Mary's (10-9, 6-5 CAC) rolled out to an 8-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game and went on to double that eight-point lead to 32-16 with 4:16 remaining in the first half. The Seahawks headed into the locker room with a seven-point margin as Hood closed out the half on an 11-1 run for a 33-27 halftime score.
Both squads battled in the second half as there were four tied scores and four lead changes. The Blazers (7-11, 2-9 CAC) outscored St. Mary's, 16-10, in the first eight minutes for the final tie score (43-43) of the game before back-to-back three-pointers by senior guard Allyson Lethbridge (Union Bridge, Md./Francis Scott Key) gave Hood its biggest lead (49-45) of the game with 11:16 remaining.
The Seahawks regained the lead with a Sham long-range shot two minutes later and knocked the wind out of Hood's sails as St. Mary's used a 19-7 run to pull away from the Blazers and seal the win.
St. Mary's defense forced 25 Blazer turnovers, gaining 25 points off those miscues, while 14 offensive boards led to 16 second-chance points. The Seahawks finished with a 43-34 rebounding margin.
Lethbridge and first-year Briana White (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) both ended the night with 18 points while sophomore guard Dyanna Prater (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) added 11 to lead Hood.
St. Mary's continues its road stint on Wednesday, February 2 when the Seahawks travel to York (Pa.) College for a league matchup at 6:00 pm.