LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Capital University caught fire offensively, marking several offensive season-highs, enroute to a 69-62 win over Maryville College on Monday night. The game was the first of two for Capital at the Transylvania Holiday Classic. 

The win pushed Capital up to 3-8 overall on the year, while Maryville slipped back to 4-7. 

In the scoring department, new career-highs in scoring from Laney Murphy (23), Brooke Ommert (20) and Maddi Weiland (12) helped Capital to their new season-most 69 total points. 

Murphy poured home her 23 points on a blistering 8-of-11 shooting, including an efficient 5-of-8 from deep. 

Ommert collected her 20 points on 66.7% shooting and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Ommert balanced her new personal best in scoring with nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals. 

Weiland complimented her 12 points with four boards, five assist, two blocks and a steal. Her rebound, assist, and block totals set or tied career-bests as well for the freshman guard. 

Ommert's aforementioned nine boards tied Maddie Dougoud for a team-best nine rebounds on the night. Both tied Nicole Flock with a season-high for the Comets individually. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets exploded for 21 points in the first quarter on an immense 69% shooting the basketball. Laney Murphy came out firing on all cylinders pouring in 13 points on 5-of-5 (3-of-3 from beyond the arc) to help lead the scoring outburst. Murphy caught fire with 4:39 remaining in the first quarter. After hitting two jumpers already, Murphy splashed home three 3-pointers in the space of 68 seconds of play to swing the momentum in the Comets' favor. 

In the second quarter, Capital cooled off subtly as the team converted on 54.5% of their shots. Overall through the first half, Cap hit a 62.5% field goal percentage. In the second period, Maryville figured a way to slow the hot-start from Murphy as they prevented her from attempting another shot in the first half. With Murphy kept quiet in the second stanza, Maddie Dougoud and Maddi Weiland stepped up, combining for 7-of-10 shooting and 15 points. Both Dougoud and Weiland also managed two blocks each by halftime. 

After halftime, Maryville continued their ascent back into the game, tacking eight points on the scoreboard across the first five minutes of the third quarter. However, Laney Murphy found herself free of pressure, and nailed home two more 3-pointers to help vault the Comets forward and maintain their lead. Brooke Ommert and Nicole Flock surrounded Murphy's three's to keep Cap in the driver's seat before the first media timeout of the second half. 

Capital finished the third quarter with a flourish as Brooke Ommert followed up a pair of successful free throws with a layup and a 3-pointer to push Capital ahead by 11 at the final quarter break. 
To start the fourth, Maryville once again looked to trim the lead. This time, they found great success cutting the lead to as few as two points at 62-60. A late free throw from Brooke Ommert put some pressure on the Scots to tie the game, forcing desperation shots from beyond the arc, both of which failed to convert. 

Protecting their lead, Laney Murphy went to the charity stripe and knocked down two free throws to kickstart a slew of free throws from both teams. Brooke Ommert followed up Murphy's successful two, with a pair of her own to push the lead to 67-61. 

After the Scots hit a free throw of their own on the other end and Ommert nailed two more, the game ended in favor of the Comets, 69-62. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
As a team, the Comets matched a season-high 48.1 field goal percentage. By a healthy margin, Capital set a new season-best 3-point percentage, connecting on 53.3% of their attempts tonight. The team's 53.3% from beyond the arc marked their most efficient clip from 3-point range since January 11, 2020 vs. Mount Union.

Setting up their scoring attempts, Capital dished out 23 team assists, a new season-high (six more than their previous high). The 23 assists was their most since they dished out an identical number on January 29, 2020 vs. Muskingum. 

Supporting their efforts offensively, Capital also set a season-best in team rebounds with 42, including a new-best 32 defensive boards. The 42 boards was the most for the team since February 12, 2020 vs. Heidelberg. 

With Laney Murphy and Brooke Ommert both eclipsing 20 points in the game, today marked the first time since January 18, 2019 in which Capital had two 20-point scorers when Emma Burns and Elle Folan each netted 20 points against Ohio Northern. 

UP NEXT
The Comets will return to the floor tomorrow afternoon with a 3 p.m. tip-off at No. 11 Transylvania. The game will mark the team's final non-conference action of the season and will send Capital into the holiday break.