UMW Women Demoralize Bobcats; Remain Undefeated

By STEVE SILVERTHORNE

The Eagles extended their undefeated win streak to 6-0 this past Saturday in a 64-31 victory over Capital Athletic Conference foe Frostburg State University. Senior guard Jenna McRae recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds and senior guard Katie Wimmer scored 15 second half points while playing with four fouls to lead the University of Mary Washington women’s basketball team to victory. The Eagles improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in league play.

The Eagles started out sluggish in the first half, and led just 16-15 at halftime on a last second jumper by sophomore guard Sam Partonen. The Eagles shot just 15 percent from the floor in the opening half, but limited Frostburg to just six baskets and a low 31 percent shooting.

The second half was a completely different story, as the Eagles shot a scorching 55 percent, and limited the Bobcats to 24 percent with only six baskets. Wimmer, who picked up her fourth foul in the opening minute of the half, took over, scoring 11 of the Eagles’ first 13 points of the half in a five minute span.

Leading 33-24 with less than 15 minutes to play, senior guard Rachel Martin hit a three-pointer to up the lead to 36-24, and Frostburg State did not get within single digits from there on out. The run was 18-2, and gave UMW a 38-24 lead with 12:51 to play.

The Eagles led in points in the paint with 22 to Frostburg’s four, and had a 25-0 margin in points off turnovers. Frostburg had 23 turnovers, to the Eagles’ 13.

Wimmer added five assists and Partonen scored nine for the Eagles, while Martin added nine on three of five shooting from behind the arc.

Even though the Eagles remain perfect, the ladies know they still have room for improvement.

Junior Carol Dye said  “We know we have the potential to succeed and go far. We all have the right mindsets and mentality towards the game and our team. We’re constantly there for each other, on and off the court, but we need to focus more on communication and working together on the floor to reach our full potential.”

The team has earned recognition this past week in the NCAA poll as one of the top 25 women’s basketball teams in the nation for Division III, at No. 24. They are the only team in the Capital Athletic Conference in the top 25 and the only one that has received any votes for it.

However, the Eagles are not satisfied with that position and know that if they keep their win streak alive and continue to improve their weaknesses they can jump high up in those polls.

The Eagles set their goals high this season, and with the 2007 Final Four women’s team being honored before Saturday’s game, the ladies could not help but be encouraged.

Dye said that, “The Final Four team being recognized during our first home opener was really inspirational and motivating to all of us. We’re definitely capable of going far and if we are able to reach our full potential than the sky is the limit.”

However, for now the Eagles main concern is taking it one game at a time and giving it everything they have every moment on the floor, to set themselves up to be successful and to finish the season with no regrets.

Sophomore Brieneke Matthes added to the thought saying, “Living up to a legacy like that one can be a lot of pressure but we have a lot of potential this year and as long as we keep working hard we will put ourselves in a position to be successful.”

The Eagles have a few days off and will play again tomorrow when they go to conference rival Marymount University at 6:00 p.m.