Women’s Basketball Beats Wesley; Improves to 10-5

The Mary Washington women’s basketball team notched another victory this past Saturday against Wesley College to add to what is now a four-game winning streak.

The Eagles defeated Wesley College by a score of 64-58, improving to 10-5 overall and 6-1 in conference play.

UMW shot well in the contest as they finished the game with a solid 48 percent field goal percentage. Meanwhile, the Wolverines shot just 40 percent on the day and also lost the critical turnover battle, as Wesley committed 13 turnovers compared to the Eagles’ 10.

Mary Washington was led in scoring by sophomore center Carol Dye and junior guard Katie Wimmer, who each scored 16 points. Dye’s 16 points were a season high, and she also added six rebounds and two assists. Junior guard Jenna McRae wracked up an all-around impressive line, stuffing the stat sheet with 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Dye credited the combined effort of the team for the road victory, their third of the season.

“Saturday was definitely a major team effort, where we all went above and beyond with our hustle and intensity,” Dye said. “I was part of this, as all 13 of us were, but I don’t believe there is ever an ‘I’ in team.”

The victory brought the team back to even in their road contests, as they now stand at 3-3 in away games, 4-2 in home contests and 3-0 in neutral-court competition. The team started 2011 with a tough 68-47 road loss against Christopher Newport University, but has not lost since, defeating Salisbury University, York College of Pennsylvania, St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Wesley. The Eagles are currently tied in first place in the Capital Athletic Conference with Marymount University.

“We will never be satisfied with anything, and our coach will never be either,” Dye said. “We have continued to grow and of course won’t ever stop. Every practice is better, just as in most cases each game is better than the last. We grew in preseason, are growing now in season, and will continue to in postseason.”

The team will enter into a tough stretch of conference games to finish competition in January, facing Frostburg State, Marymount and St. Mary’s. Dye is confident in her team’s ability to compete going forward.

“[The biggest thing is] heart,” Dye said. “There is no way any of us could play the way we do without heart. You may think that we have great intensity, great leadership, great chemistry, but none of that would ever work unless it begins with heart.”

The team faced Hood College last night, but the result ended too late to be listed in this issue. The Lady Eagles next contest is at home against Frostburg State University on Saturday at 2 p.m.