Mary Washington And York Both Post Second Round NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Wins - CAC Boasts 2 Teams In Sweet 16
For just the second time in the 22-year history of the Capital Athletic Conference, two women's basketball teams have advanced to the Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. CAC Champion Mary Washington battled back to beat Messiah, 53-50, while York upset Juniata by a 90-81 margin.
Seventh-ranked Mary Washington rallied from a 30-20 halftime deficit to gain the home-court victory. Senior guard Jenna McRae registered the double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the undefeated Eagles (29-0). McRae also blocked Messiah's three-point attempt at the final buzzer that could have tied the game.
Reserve Amanda Witmer also added 10 points, including UMW's only three-point goal of the night, while senior guard Katie Wimmer chipped in nine points.
UMW equaled the second-highest win total in CAC history. The 2007 Eagles, who advanced to the Division III Final Four, own the record for most wins in a season (31). This year's squad tied the 2006 UMW team for the second-highest win total, both with 29.
York will also be in the Sweet 16 for the second time in the last four years. The Spartans controlled the game throughout, leading by as many as 20 points in the second half, on the way to the nine-point victory.
Four of York's five starters finished in double figures in the scoring column, led by CAC all-stars Brittany Hicks (27) and April Sparkman (23). Sophomores Kristen Haley (17) and Brittany Murphy (12) also spearheaded the YCP attack. Haley led the rebounding effort with 16 caroms while the fifth CAC starter, point guard Aja Wallpher, dished out 11 assists to go with her eight points.
York shot an incredible 66% from the field (35-for-53), including a 62.5% performance from three-point range (10-for-16). The host Eagles hit just 39.1% from the field (27-for-69)
The 2001-02 season was the only other time in CAC history that had two women's basketball teams advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Marymount, on the way to a berth in the NCAA Final Four, upset regular-season and playoff champion Salisbury by a 79-52 margin in a Sweet 16 showdown.