RAPID REACTION: BRIANNE COMDEN AND KENDALL PARKER

Sophomore guard Kendall Parker scored 19 points and junior center Brianne Comden added 18 to lead the University of Mary Washington women's basketball team to a 71-61 victory over York College of Pa. on Monday night at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles improve to 16-3 on the season, and 10-2 in Capital Athletic Conference play.

It was York who came out strong, building an 18-9 lead after one quarter. After the teams traded baskets to open the game, York scored 10 straight points to take a 12-2 advantage with 4:51 left in the first. A layup from Meghan Comer and a Parker three pointer cut the deficit to 12-7, but York scored six straight before Taylor Barton capped the scoring with a layup with six seconds left.

After allowing a three pointer to start the second, the Eagles used a pair of baskets from Comden and another from Barton to cut the deficit to 22-15 with 6:41 remaining. After York rebuilt the lead to 27-17, the Eagles scored nine straight points, capped by a Parker three pointer, to cut the deficit to one at 27-26 with 3:09 left.

After a pair of Spartan free throws, Comden and Comer scored to tie the score at 32-32, and Parker made a free thow to give the Eagles their first lead, but York finished the half with a layup with 24 seconds left to take a 34-33 lead to intermission.

Mary Washington started the second half with a 12-1 run. Freshman Elizabeth Dofflemyer made a three point play, and followed with another basket with a Comden bucket mixed in. Megan Green hit a three pointer before Comer added a basket to swell the Eagle advantage to 45-35 with 4:02 left in the third quarter.

A four-point play from Parker upped the lead to 49-38 with 3:10 to go, and a Dofflemyer three raised the lead to 12. After a York triple, UMW answered with consecutive three pointers from Parker to lead 60-45 with 45 seconds left. A late pair of Spartan free throws cut the margin to 13 at 62-49 entering period number four.

York responded, starting the fourth with a 9-0 run to trim the deficit to four, at 62-58, with 5:04 to play. But UMW had the final run, outscoring the Spartans, 9-0, before York sank a three in the final minute to trim the final to 71-61. Comer had four ppoints in the decisive run.

Parker made 5-9 shots, including 5-7 three pointers, and made 4-5 free throws en route to 19 points, while Comden made 9-14 field goals for her 18, to go with seven rebounds and three blocks. Dofflemyer and Comer each added 12 for the Eagles.

UMW shot 44.1% (26-59) from the field, making 7-13 three pointers and 12-15 free throws. York shot 38.8% (19-49), making 10-21 three pointers and 13-20 free throws. The Eagles won the rebounding battle, 41-29.

Mary Washington will return to action on Wednesday when they visit St. Mary's College at 6:00 p.m.