ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s basketball team (19-7) edged Saint Elizabeth (15-12) 64-63 in a United East Conference quarterfinal on Feb. 22, thanks to Tramarie Mobray’s game-winning layup with eight seconds left. The Seahawks, hosting the playoff matchup, erased a nine-point halftime deficit with a dominant third quarter and held firm against a furious Eagles comeback to secure the home victory.
Saint Elizabeth started strong, taking a 16-13 lead after one quarter. The Eagles finished the period with eight of the last 10 points, while Mobray scored four and Sam Blaylock hit a three for St. Mary’s. The second quarter saw Saint Elizabeth pull away with an 11-0 run over three minutes, building a 10-point lead. The Seahawks responded with six straight points from Mobray, Marley Saunders, and Keira Mason, narrowing it to four, but a three-pointer at the horn gave the Eagles a 33-24 halftime edge.
The third quarter belonged to St. Mary’s, who outscored Saint Elizabeth 22-7. Olivia Liszt drained three three-pointers, and Saffiyah Gibson added six points, turning a deficit into a 46-40 lead. The Seahawks pushed their advantage to 11 points early in the fourth, but the Eagles battled back, tying it at 60 and taking a 62-60 lead late. Mobray leveled it at 62 with a minute left, and after Saint Elizabeth went up 63-62 on a free throw with 28 seconds remaining, she delivered again. Her layup with eight seconds to go gave St. Mary’s a 64-63 lead, and the Eagles’ final three-point try missed, locking in the win.
Mobray led with 17 points and 12 rebounds, her late baskets proving pivotal. Liszt scored 16, including her third-quarter flurry, and Gibson contributed 14 points and a steal. St. Mary’s advances to face No. 5 Bryn Athyn on Feb. 25 at home, time TBD.
