ARLINGTON, Va. – The Marymount women's basketball team battled past the University of Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon in the Verizon Sports Arena, 57-46, to remain untouched in Capital Athletic Conference play and extend its home win streak to 13.
The Saints (13-2, 8-0) are now just one win away from a perfect first half in league competition with only Penn State-Harrisburg left on Wednesday, January 17 at home. The Lions are currently 1-7 in the league after earning their first league win on Saturday against St. Mary's College of Maryland.
It played out close early with the advantage to the Eagles at the end of the first quarter, 13-12, as it marks the first time this season the Saints trailed to a conference team through the first 10 minutes.
However, the defense still held strong for Marymount, not allowing UMW to score a basket from the 3:10 mark of the first quarter until the 5:39 mark of the second, a span of 7:31 without scoring. Through that gap of time, the Saints rattled off seven-straight points to go ahead, 18-13, including a Gabriella Haddad jumper to open the second quarter to take over the lead for the first time.
The intensity on the offensive boards in the second quarter played heavily into the favor of Marymount, pulling down nine of its 11 total in the half to convert 10 second-chance points. On the defensive end, the Saints forced seven Eagle turnovers, which totaled to 16 through the half. Marymount outscored UMW, 14-4, in the second quarter, as senior Nicole Viscuso led all scorers with eight points at the break, while senior Leah Hurst dished out four assists.
The second half played much closer between the squads, but the nine-point halftime lead gave the Saints an edge for the remainder of the game. Marymount never trailed in the second half and would build up to a 15-point advantage in the fourth quarter to seal up the victory.
The intensity on both sides of the ball made a complete all-around game for the Saints. MU commanded the offensive board with 21 for the game, the second most it has had this season behind the 25 against Southern Virginia, while converting 22 second-chance points compared to the four by the Eagles.
On the defensive end, the Saints forced UMW into 25 turnovers, the most it has had all season, as Marymount accumulated 14 steals in the process. Viscuso led the way with four, and Hurst, junior Tyffani McQueen and sophomore Regan Lohr each added three.
Lohr finished the day with a game-high 21 points, including an impressive 5-for-7 from beyond the mark. The five three-pointers ties her career high in a game, a bar she set a week and a half ago at Frostburg State. Viscuso added 12 ponts along with a team-high eight rebounds. Hurst came through with nine points and a tied season-high eight assists. The senior continues to lead the CAC in assists per game (5.4) and steals per game (2.9), while her assists turnover ratio (3.04) sits fourth in the country.
Marymount continues its four-game home stand on Wednesday, January 17 against the Lions with tipoff set for 6 p.m., in the Verizon Sports Arena.