FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Salisbury University women's basketball team fell behind early and could not make up its ground on Saturday afternoon, falling to the University of Mary Washington, 52-36, in Capital Athletic Conference play.

Senior Julia McLaughlin got things started for Salisbury, hitting a long jumper at the top of the key to give the Sea Gulls an early 2-0 lead, but for the rest of the quarter it would be all Mary Washington, as the Eagles used a 16-2 run to close out the first quarter and take a 16-4 lead into the second. Brianne Comden led Mary Washington with seven points during the stretch.

After the Eagles started the scoring in the second with two free throws from Elizabeth Dofflemyer, the Sea Gulls answered back with three points from freshman Kaylyn French, including a layup from the left side after garnering an offensive rebound. The effort by French cut Mary Washington's lead to 18-7, but the Eagles would retaliate with six-straight points.  

The Eagles used a balanced effort from Megan Green, Kendall Parker, and Meghan Comer during the spurt to increase their lead to 24-7.

Salisbury (8-2, 2-2 CAC) ended the quarter on a 5-2 run, led by a 17-foot jumper from junior Lauren Rothfeld, making the score 26-12 at halftime.

Mary Washington's offense stayed hot to start the third, beginning the period with a 9-3 stretch, led by four points from Sarah Listenbee.

The Eagles (11-2, 5-1 CAC) built a 40-17 lead with under five minutes to go in the third, but seven-straight points from the Gulls, led by a strong defensive stand by Salisbury, cut into Mary Washington's lead, 40-24. Freshman Megan Konig led the way offensively for Salisbury during the run, scoring three points. Comden scored four-straight points to break the run and to close out the quarter, giving the Eagles a 44-24 lead heading into the fourth.

Sophomore Josephine Noonan had a strong third quarter for Salisbury, scoring all five of her points in the period.

The Gulls used a balanced scoring effort from sophomore Mary McDonagh, Konig, and French to post an 8-4 stretch during the first six-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter. The run got Salisbury within 16 points, trailing 48-32, but that would be as close as it would get for the remainder of the game.

French led the Sea Gulls with a team-high seven points and a career-high 14 rebounds, while sophomore Morgan Grubb and McLaughlin each finished with six points.

Salisbury will travel to Dover, Delaware to take on Wesley College in another CAC matchup on Wednesday, January 13. That game is set for 6 p.m.