Former CBA Star Amanda Billy Powers Marymount to Win

Shooting Guard Sets School Record with 8 Three-Pointers

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action shot of Billy

ARLINGTON, VA (11/18/2009)(readMedia)-- The Marymount Saints came into their season opening game trying to figure out how to play without three probable starters, including All American senior Kathleen Brown, but a career-performance by junior guard Amanda Billy put MU at the top of the Capital Athletic Conference standings as they defeated Gallaudet, 68-59.

Billy scored the first eight points for the Saints as they took an 8-2 lead. But the Bison quickly came back and tied the game at 8-8 nearly four minutes into the game. And then the visitors took at six-point lead at 18-12 with 11 minutes to go in the first half. But a three-pointer by freshman Zoe Saulsgiver, a jumper by Terell White and a layup by Christina LaVigna with a GU free throw in between saw Marymount tie the game at 19-19 a minute and a half later.

After the teams traded leads for the rest of the first period, a three-pointer by Billy at the 1:42 mark (her fourth of the half) cut the Gallaudet lead to 34-33 at the half.

Terell White scored the first basket of the second half to give the Saints a 35-34 lead. Each team worked a four-point lead over the first 11 minutes of the second period. With 8:30 to go White's jumper cut the Bison's lead to two points at 47-45. Another trey from Billy at the 8:00 mark gave the Saints the lead for good at 48-47. Two more threes by Billy during the next four minutes and four more points from White gave MU its largest lead at nine points, 61-52.

Billy set a new school record for three pointers with eight in the contest. The old MU mark was six, held by four different players. In all she shot 10-18 from the floor, including 8-16 in threes. Along with her 28 points (a career high), she had four rebounds and a team-high three steals. The eight threes also ties the Capital Athletic Conference mark for a single game.

Billy is a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy and a Syracuse resident. Her previous career high scoring game was 20 points with four three-pointers. She is a Dean's List student and mathematics major at the Arlington school.

The Saints are now 1-0 overall and the same in the CAC going into the Marymount-Marines Tip-Off Tournament this weekend. They will host NC Wesleyan on Friday at 7:30 pm.