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WIN COSTLY FOR EAGLES COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament: UMW 73, Baruch 58
Date published: 3/8/2008
BY KURT NICOLL
The University of Mary Washington women's basketball team survived a formidable opponent as well as an injury to a key player yesterday to advance to today's Division III second-round game at Goolrick Gym.
A diversified attack proved to be the winning ticket as the Eagles ousted Baruch College, 73-58. They'll face the College of New Jersey, which beat Bridgewater 65-52 in yesterday's first game.
"It was definitely different from what we are used to playing. But I thought the team did a great job of adjusting," junior guard Katy Larson said. "We're just such a smart group of girls. We sit back and see what the other team is going to do and we adjust.
"Coach [Deena Applebury] told us before that they were going to make runs. We knew it was going to happen. We had to keep our heads and worry about what we were doing."
The play of Larson and fellow reserve Kaitie Clarkin was critical after the Eagles lost star forward Ashton Mitchell to a knee injury with 4:48 remaining.
Larson finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists--one fewer than teammate Leigh Kampman. Clarkin added 11 points and performed solidly at the defensive end, including one blocked shot.
Both Ashton and Ashley Reed (concussion) will miss today's game and might be through for the season, according to Applebury.
With her fellow inside partner sidelined and watching from the bench, Liz Hickey took up the slack, totaling 17 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots, raising her career blocks total to 503.
Come crunch time, the Eagle guards consistently lobbed passes to the 6-foot-3 senior, who usually scored a layup or was fouled.
Describing some of Baruch's techniques of fouling as "chippy," Applebury expressed a feeling of vindication about the way her team played.
"The last couple of years, people have been saying we aren't the most athletic team," she said. "Playing this game tonight just shows, yes we are athletic and we can defend against athletic teams."
Trailing 8-6 four minutes into the contest, the host Eagles went on a 15-0 run. Mitchell sparked the spurt with six points, including a steal in the backcourt that ended with a layup at the other end. She had 13 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots before going out.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN Yesterday's scores
Coll. of New Jersey 65, Bridgewater 52
UMW 73, Baruch 58
Today's game at UMW
College of New Jersey vs. Mary Washington, 5
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Date published: 3/8/2008
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