ARLINGTON, Va. – The Marymount University women's basketball team claimed the Pablo Coto Tip-Off Tournament championship on Saturday night at the Converse Family Fieldhouse, downing The Sage Colleges, 69-46.
The Gators took a 9-5 lead in the first five minutes of play, but Marymount responded with a 10-0 run to grab the lead.
Senior Gabriella Haddad scored a layup to get the Saints going, and classmate Abby Fisher powered the run with six points. Fisher hit two layups to end the spurt and give Marymount the 15-9 lead.
The Saints took a 15-11 lead into the quarter break, behind Fisher's six points.
Marymount continued to hold its lead in the second quarter, with a jumper from Fisher and a layup from sophomore Katie McShea. Four points from junior Ananda Claggett on two free throws and a layup pushed the advantage to six, 23-17.
However, the Gators scored the final seven points of the quarter to take a 24-23 lead into halftime.
At the break, Fisher led the team with eight points, while Haddad, McShea, and Claggett all tallied four.
Marymount came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the Gators 30-13, to pull away in the game.
The Saints got nine points, each, from McShea and Claggett in the quarter, while McShea also pulled down eight rebounds. Claggett scored six points in the final 90 seconds of the third to give Marymount a 53-37 lead to start the fourth quarter.
Marymount continued to build its advantage in the fourth with 16 points, while reaching a 20-plus point lead with 4:12 to go on a three-pointer by junior Aidan Phillips.
With another strong defensive fourth quarter, the Saints only allowed nine points and held the Gators to 2-of-11 shooting, securing the victory.
With 13 second-half points, McShea finished with a game-high 17; she added 13 rebounds for her first double-double of the year. She was named to the Pablo Coto All-Tournament team for her effort.
Claggett finished with 13 points, while Fisher and Haddad, each, tallied 10. Haddad was named the Pablo Coto Tournament Most Valuable Player for her play. She scored in double-figures in both games, while adding nine total rebounds on the weekend.
The Saints will take to the road for their next game, traveling to Salisbury University on Wednesday, November 20 for a 6 p.m., tip-off.