The University of Mary Washington’s women’s basketball team was downright unbeatable during the month of January. The Eagles came into Wednesday night’s non-conference matchup with the Ferrum Panthers as winners of their last eight, and winning those eight games by a combined total of 150 points.
Evidently no one told that to the Panthers, members of the USA South Conference and owners of a 13-5 record in their own right.
It took the Eagles until midway through the second half to swing momentum in their favor, winning by a final score of 65-60.
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“That’s why we have a non-conference game this late in the season quite frankly,” said Eagles’ head coach Deena Applebury. “They’re (Ferrum) a good team, and we knew it was going to be a good contest.”
The first half was played at a breakneck pace as both squads tried to establish their physicality.
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Coach Applebury knows that was no coincidence.
Said Applebury, “The better the opponent, the more physical the game. That’s just all there is to it. Physical teams usually win out.”
As intense as the play was, it was just as even. Whenever it looked like the Eagles would go on a run, Ferrum answered right back. The Panthers shot particularly well from the perimeter, draining five treys during the half.
Rachel Martin provided a much-needed surge for the Eagles, coming up with several key steals and keeping possessions alive on the offensive boards.
Despite trailing by three at one point, the Eagles mounted a run with a minute remaining and took a 29-26 lead into the half.
The second half began, and the gallery was treated to the same brand of competitive basketball that they witnessed in the first.
The Eagles opened up a physical advantage, forcing the Panthers to throw up some awkward shots. Mary Washington also picked up the ball movement, which opened up some good looks for their shooters.
Jenna McRae stole the spotlight with a sensational alley-oop layup midway through the half.
Although the Eagles stretched their lead to as much as eleven at one point, Ferrum wasn’t done. Shea Smith cut the Panther deficit to four after she converted an old-school three-point play.
With time running out and the outcome in question, Mary Washington made their shots when they needed to, led by McRae and her game-high 21 points.
“We just kept our composure; we kept playing hard,” said Applebury about her team’s gritty play in the fourth quarter.
“We didn’t give in, we didn’t let up. They knocked down some great shots, and they put some good pressure on us defensively. We just continued to play, we didn’t give in; we didn’t let up.”
Mary Washington Scoring
McRae 21
Partonen 12
Wimmer 10
Brooks 9
Martin 8
Dye 4
Matthes 2
Carlezon 2
Ferrum Scoring
Akers 15
Bullock 11
Keith 10
Goins 7
Kipps 5
Smith 4
Burwell 4
Frazier 4
