PHOENIXVILLE, PA – On Tuesday evening, the University of Valley Forge women's basketball team went up against Bryn Mawr College at The Pit. It was a very close game throughout the contest, but the Patriots were able to hold on and grab the victory, 36-33.
After a slow start on the offensive end for both teams,
Naomi Thompson and
Madison Arrowsmith combined to hit a pair of 3 pointers to get the team going. Trailing 7-6 halfway through the period,
Amanda McGinness hit two layups to give the Patriots the lead. Then, holding on to a one-point lead with 5:30 to play in the half, Thompson and
Patience Ekuta hit back to back 3 pointers to put the Patriots ahead, 16-9. They held that margin heading into the locker room at the break.
At the 16:58 mark of the second half, the team built its largest lead (24-14) after another 3 pointer from Ekuta. However, the Owls of Bryn Mawr College were not going away. Kara Breeden and Sanam Sheriff sparked the Owls and led them on a 9-0 scoring run to put them down just one with 13:24 to play. Veronica Roux capped the comeback with a layup to give the Owls a one point lead with 10:00 to play. Rather than getting down on themselves for losing a big lead, the Patriots immediately responded with a jumper from McGinness. A jumper from Thompson at 6:51 then gave the Patriots a 4 point lead (30-26). Holding on to a 3 point lead with 3:00 to play, the Patriots got a big play from
Jerylin Ellis as she grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up and in to keep the Owls at a distance (34-29). Then, a pair of free throws from
Bailey Mayforth gave the Patriots a 7 point lead with one minute to play. The team was able to hold on for the win.
One of the keys to victory for this game was the Patriots balanced scoring. McGinness, Ekuta, and Thompson all finished with 8 points. McGinness and Mayforth also each had 7 rebounds.
After playing 4 games in 6 days, the Patriots have a week off before their next contest. They will travel to Baltimore, MD to take on Notre Dame of Maryland University on Monday, January 19
th.
Go Patriots!