ST. MARY’S CITY, MD — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Women’s Basketball Team (11-7) faced Gallaudet University (10-8) in a tightly contested United East Conference matchup, ultimately falling short in a 64-61 loss.
The Seahawks started strong, taking an early 19-10 lead by the end of the first quarter. Sam Blaylock helped set the tone with five points, including one of the team’s three three-pointers in the opening minutes. St. Mary’s extended its advantage in the second quarter, building a 14-point lead after another three-pointer from Blaylock midway through the period. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, and St. Mary’s went into the break with a 34-21 lead. Olivia Liszt added five points in the quarter to contribute to the Seahawks’ strong first-half performance.
After halftime, the momentum shifted. St. Mary’s struggled offensively in the third quarter, managing only six points as their shooting cooled. Gallaudet took advantage of the Seahawks’ difficulties, clawing their way back into the game and tying the score at 40 heading into the final quarter.
Blaylock provided key moments for the Seahawks in the fourth quarter, hitting a three-pointer early in the period and another at the seven-minute mark to tie the game following a Gallaudet run. Despite her efforts, the Bison retook the lead shortly after, and St. Mary’s was unable to convert the critical shots needed to regain control. The Seahawks consistently trailed by a basket in the closing minutes but ultimately couldn’t find the opportunity to pull ahead, falling to Gallaudet 64-61.
Blaylock finished the game as St. Mary’s leading scorer with 14 points, while Liszt contributed 11. On defense, Keira Mason made an impact with five steals, keeping the Seahawks competitive in a game that came down to the wire.
St. Mary’s will look to bounce back on January 25 when they travel to Allentown, Pennsylvania, to take on Cedar Crest College at 1:00 p.m.
