St. MARY’S CITY, Md. — St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s basketball team, under first-year Head Coach LaTanya Collins, clinched a close 67-66 win over Virginia Wesleyan University on Tuesday night. This win, marking the Seahawks’ second victory of the season, reflects a promising start under Collins’ leadership as they prepare for their next matchup in the Jamie L. Roberts Memorial Tournament.
Game Recap
Both teams fought for momentum in the opening quarter, which saw eight lead changes and one tie. Virginia Wesleyan edged out St. Mary’s in the first quarter, leading 16-15, driven by six points from Keagan Schwab.
The second quarter saw the Seahawks take control, shooting at an impressive 52.6% from the field. This accuracy allowed St. Mary’s to outscore the Marlins 22-14, resulting in a 37-30 lead at halftime. The Seahawks opened the second quarter with a 16-2 run, largely led by sophomore Olivia Hedrick. Hedrick, a center from Harpers Ferry, W.Va., contributed seven points during this run, including five that sparked the team’s surge.
Maintaining their momentum, St. Mary’s expanded their lead to nine points in the third quarter. A defensive play resulted in back-to-back steals and layups by junior guards Tramarie Mobray and Sam Blaylock, increasing the Seahawks’ advantage to 51-42. However, Virginia Wesleyan clawed their way back with a 9-2 run powered by Schwab, who hit a pair of three-pointers. This run closed the gap, leaving the Seahawks with a narrow 53-51 lead as the fourth quarter began.
Virginia Wesleyan briefly took a 58-55 lead midway through the final quarter, thanks to an old-fashioned three-point play by Bre Robinson. However, St. Mary’s quickly regained control as Blaylock and sophomore Rayna Miller each hit a three-pointer, and Mobray added a layup, restoring a five-point cushion at 65-60.
The Marlins tightened the score once again when Jaiden Hunter’s two-point jump shot cut St. Mary’s lead to 67-66 with just over two minutes left on the clock. Despite offensive struggles from both sides in the final minutes, the Seahawks managed to keep their slim lead until the final buzzer, securing a nail-biting victory.
Key Performances
St. Mary’s College finished the game with a shooting percentage of 46.8% (29-of-62), with a game-high shooting percentage of 52.6% during the second quarter. Defensively, the Seahawks tallied 16 steals and six blocks, though Virginia Wesleyan dominated on the boards with a 10-rebound advantage, grabbing 44 rebounds compared to St. Mary’s 34.
Mobray led the Seahawks offensively with a season-high 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting, adding three assists, three steals, and a rebound. Blaylock chipped in 13 points, shooting 3-of-8 from beyond the arc, while contributing five assists, four rebounds, and three steals. First-year forward Keira Mason also made a significant impact off the bench, recording her first career double-double with 12 points and a team-best 11 rebounds, along with two blocks and two steals. Hedrick rounded out the night with a career-high 11 points, two rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
For Virginia Wesleyan, Schwab stood out as the game’s top scorer, putting up 22 points. Hunter added a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, the Seahawks improve to 2-0 as they prepare to face the Rochester Institute of Technology (0-1) on Friday, Nov. 15. The game, part of the Jamie L. Roberts Memorial Tournament, will take place at MPOARC Arena at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s City.
