YORK, Pa. – The Salisbury University women's basketball team fought hard on Tuesday night, but fell, 54-52, in a heartbreaker against York College of Pennsylvania in the first round of the Capital Athletic Conference tournament.

Free throws from freshman Kaylyn French and sophomore Mary McDonagh put Salisbury up 52-50 with 26 seconds left, but York closed out the game scoring four-straight points, including the deciding basket by Katie Wagner with just under 12 seconds on the clock.

Sam Hruz opened the scoring in the contest with a three pointer 25 seconds into the game, but a jumpshot from sophomore Josephine Noonan and a layup by senior Julia McLaughlin put the Sea Gulls up 4-3 at 7:17 in the first quarter.

The Spartans cashed in a layup and two free throws to regain the lead before a three ball from junior Lauren Rothfeld knotted the game at 7-7.

Rothfeld's long ball sparked a 7-2 Salisbury run, giving the Gulls an 11-9 advantage with 3:24 left in the opening period.

Salisbury and York would trade baskets for the next six minutes carrying over into the second quarter until the Sea Gulls broke the trend with a 7-3 run, including a layup from French, to go up 23-20 with 3:50 left in the second.

The Spartans retaliated with an 8-2 spurt to close out the first half and take a 28-25 lead into the break, led by a three pointer from Morgan Kuehne.

Salisbury opened the third quarter hot on offense, using a 9-3 stretch to go up 34-31 with just over five minutes left in the period. McLaughlin tallied six points during the run, including a turnaround jumper from the left wing.

After York retook the lead, 35-34, off two baskets from Sam Hruz, Rothfeld would lead the Sea Gulls on a 7-3 spurt, scoring all seven points during the run, including a three-pointer from the top of the key.

The Spartans went on an 8-1 stretch that carried into the fourth quarter, which gave York a 46-42 advantage with 6:43 remaining in the fourth.

Salisbury was not done as it used a 7-2 spurt to take a 49-48 lead with 3:07 left, including a three pointer from senior Theano Alvanos.

But the Spartans would close out the game on a 6-2 stretch, including the game-winning layup from Wagner with just over 11 seconds left in the game.

McLaughlin finished the game with her 10th double-double of the season, tallying 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Rothfeld scored 12 points and added seven boards.