LEXINGTON, Va. – The Salisbury University women's basketball team battled but endured a 74-57 loss to the Lynchburg Hornets on the final day of the Washington & Lee Invitational on Sunday afternoon at Holekamp Gym.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Sea Gulls scored the first four points of the game and held an 8-4 lead at the 5:44 mark of the first quarter after a jumper in the paint by Hailey Ader.
• With SU up 12-10 two minutes later, Macey Mullins hit a three-pointer to spark a 12-4 Lynchburg run to close the opening session. The Hornets led by as many as eight but Cora Shafer made it a six-point margin at the end of the first, 22-16, with a late bucket.
• Alex Bull hit a layup and a triple to open the second quarter and make it 22-21. Salisbury eventually drew even at 29-29 and 31-31, with Bull's layup at the 2:05 mark bringing things all square.
• Mullins and Cason drilled back-to-back treys, then after an Abby Plaugher jumper Cason connected from deep again, giving the Hornets a 9-2 run to close the first half and a 40-33 cushion.
• The Sea Gulls got back in the game two minutes into the third quarter, with a layup and two free throws by Kayla Nieberlein bringing SU within one possession at 42-39.
• Sayre Brandstatter's triple sparked a 13-2 Hornet run to boost the lead to 55-41 at the 5:45 mark of the third. SU steadied up from there but Lynchburg took a 60-49 advantage into the final period.
• Cason opened the fourth quarter with a jumper and the Hornets maintained at least a 13-point lead the rest of the way, closing out a 74-57 margin with a Breen Spainhour layup.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Alex Bull led the Sea Gulls' offensive output for the second straight game with 16 points (5-of-17), plus six rebounds.
• Abby Plaugher netted 11 points (5-of-12) off the bench for her third straight double-digit scoring output.
• Hailey Ader came one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 boards.
• Kayla Nieberlein added eight points and three rebounds.
• The Sea Gulls shot 33.3 percent (20-of-60) on their field goal attempts, going 3-of-15 (20 percent) from downtown and 14-of-18 (77.8) from the free throw line.

LYNCHBURG GAME NOTES

• Bree Spainhour led a balanced Hornet attack with 19 points (9-of-12), four rebounds, and two assists.
• Macey Mullins chipped in 14 points, shooting 4-of-8 from distance, with three boards and three helpers.
• Brooke Cason contributed 35 points, five assists, and three steals.
• Sayre Brandstatter stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, 12 boards, seven assists, and three steals.
• The Hornets converted 50.8 percent (31-of-61) from the floor and 8-of-22 (36.4 percent) from deep.
• Lynchburg outrebounded SU 39-31.

UP NEXT

• The Sea Gulls cap their three-game road swing on Tuesday night with a trip to Wilson College.
• Tipoff from Chambersburg, Pa., is set for 6 p.m.

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Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 197 conference championships, and 45 Academic All-Americans.

To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.