UNIONTOWN, PA—The Villa Maria College women's basketball team took on the defending National Champions, Central Maine Community College, on Tuesday and battled them hard throughout the contest. In the end, the Vikings fell by a final score of 80-62. 
 
The Mustangs scored first, but Estella Anderson and Norvonee Hall responded with two made baskets to put the team ahead. The team began to trade makes and go back and forth throughout the first frame. Dakaylah Winfield hit a jump shot and later converted a three-pointer to tie the game each time. After ten minutes of play, the Mustangs led Villa 14-12. 
 
As the second quarter started, Precious Adamson made a layup to even the score and once again the two teams exchanged leads until Villa was able to make a run in the final three minutes of the half. Bianca Brown gave the team the lead with a three-pointer and it was followed by a jump shot by Ta Lia Burgess to go up 26-20. Jordon Wright later knocked down a three of her own to put the team ahead 29-22 and at halftime, the Vikings led 29-23. 
 
The third quarter started off well for Villa with Brown knocking down a mid-range shot to put the team up eight, but it quickly turned as the Mustangs began to make a run. At the 6:34 mark they tied the game at 33-33 and after Bush converted a jump shot, Central Maine hit a three to take a one-point lead. Tekia Gary was able to tie the game again at the 3:23 mark with a free-throw, but heading into the final frame, Villa was behind 52-46. 
 
Throughout the first half of the final quarter, the Vikings were able to keep the game close with makes by Hall, Winfield keeping the deficit to three. In the final half of the fourth quarter, the Mustangs caught fire from beyond the arc and took a comfortable advantage that Villa was unable to counter. In the end, the Vikings fell by a final score of 80-62. 
 
Hall was strong on the boards, collecting 15 rebounds to go along with her 15 points. Brown added 13 points of her own to go along with four rebounds and two blocks. Burgess was the second highest rebounder with 11 and contributed seven points and two steals. 
 
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