The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team advanced to another Coast-to-Coast Conference championship game after squeaking by Salisbury in the C2C semifinal, 56-50, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday evening.
The Eagles got a game-high 17 points from Juliana Mabie, who was 6-of-11 from the floor, while
Jenna Steadman added 10 and
Breana Valentine added another nine points.
Mary Washington trailed at the half, 27-22, before coming out of the break on a 12-0 run, taking a 34-27 lead with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Eagles then ended the quarter on a 10-6 run as it took a 44-33 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Sea Gulls eventually cut into the lead with a minute left in the game, 54-50, but after a Valentine steal, UMW iced the game with a pair of
Megan Baxter free throws.
All told, Mary Washington was 20-of-55 from the floor (36.4%), which included a pair of free throws, while grabbing 31 rebounds and forcing 18 turnovers. Salisbury, meanwhile, was 22-of-46 from the floor, but was out-rebounded by three, and just 6-for-14 from the free throw line.
The Eagles are back in action in the C2C championship game, facing No. 8 Christopher Newport at 3 p.m. ET in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.