Harrisonburg, Va. – Senior Joanna Murray (Reisterstown, Md./Franklin) and junior forward Marche Pearson (Baltimore, Md./Laurel) paced the St. Mary's College of Maryland women's basketball team in a 79-56 non-conference loss to Eastern Mennonite University Wednesday night.

Murray tallied 13 points as she went 6-of-6 from the free throw line while dishing out five assists.  Pearson contributed a dozen and hauled in a game-high eight rebounds.  Junior Sophie Pruden (Carrboro, N.C./Chapel Hill) had a solid effort off the bench with nine points, six boards, and career-best three blocks.

The Seahawks (5-6) overcame a quick 8-0 start by Eastern Mennonite with a 12-4 run to knot the game on Pruden's layup at 13:50.  The Royals responded with a 30-15 run over a 12 minute span to boast a 42-27 advantage with 1:43 left in the half.

Murray and EMU's junior forward Bianca Ygarza (Conestoga, Pa.) finished the first half as co-leaders with 11 points each.  Despite 18 first-half turnovers, strong first-half shooting kept the Seahawks within range of Eastern Mennonite.  St. Mary's shot over 50% and went 8-of-10 from the charity stripe for the 44-33 halftime deficit.

The Royals (6-4) opened up the second half with a 12-2 run and then both teams went cold as neither scored during the next four minutes.  EMU would lead by 20 or points for the final 14:31 of the contest.

Ygarza finished the night with a game-high 15 points while grabbing seven rebounds.  Forwards Kala Yoders (Myerstown, Pa.) and Raiven Patterson (Pulaski, Va.) chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

St. Mary's looks to turn back its three-game skid this Saturday, January 5 as the Seahawks return to Capital Athletic Conference action at Frostburg State University.  Tipoff is set for 1:00 pm.

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