SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University women's basketball team was defeated by No. 17 University of Mary Washington, 80-46, on Wednesday evening at the Maggs Center. The game marked the first Capital Athletic Conference game of the season for both teams.

Salisbury (0-6, 0-1 CAC) pulled to within three-points, 27-24, against the nationally ranked Eagles squad with five minutes left in the first half. Junior forward Janay Johnson (seven rebounds) capped off the 8-3 run with a jumper as she scored 12 of her team-high 14 points in the opening half. That was as close as the Sea Gulls got as UMW went on a 19-2 spurt to take a 20-point lead, 46-26, into the half.

Mary Washington (6-0, 1-0 CAC) continued its hot hand in the second half as the Eagles shot 48 percent from the field as they outrebounded Salisbury, 43-31.

SU freshman Meghan Dunn had her best performance of her young career with a 12-point and five-rebound game. Fellow freshman Glen Charlton and Sherrita Hall both had six points. Freshman Katharine Curran made a team-high three assists while junior forward Kylie Hall led the team with two steals.

The Eagles had a balanced scoring attack as 11-of-13 players scored at least a point in the win. Freshman center Lauren Kornacki came off the bench to score 15 points behind a 7-for-9 shooting performance from the field to go with four rebounds. Four Eagles reached double figures including Kornacki, Katy Larson (13 points, three assists, three steals), Jenna McRae (12 points, five assists) and Kate Carlezon (10 points, four rebounds).

Salisbury will next host the Optimist Classic which begins this Friday, December 5, at the Maggs Center. SU welcomes Lebanon Valley College, Widener University and York (N.Y.) College to the two-day classic. The Sea Gulls will face Widener at 6 p.m. while Lebanon Valley and York face each other at 3 p.m.