CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – The Salisbury University women's basketball team turned up the heat on defense and used a pair of 20-point outbursts from two freshman to secure an 82-54 win over the Wilson Phoenix on Tuesday evening at Gannett Field House.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The teams boxed evenly through the first five minutes of the first quarter, with the Sea Gulls building multiple three-point leads and the Phoenix answering to draw even, 10-10, at the 4:53 mark.
• A block by Kayla Nieberlein set up a Nicole Miller fastbreak and-one, igniting a 10-1 SU run. Miller netted the next five points on another layup and a three, while Alex Bull sank her own basket to build the lead to 20-11. Wilson hit a pair of free throws in the final second to make it 20-13 at the end of the first.
• The Phoenix netted the first four points of the second quarter to pull within 20-17, but Abby Plaugher sank a jumper and sparked another big Salisbury run, this time 13-0 over five minutes of action. Plaugher contributed nine points in the flourish, including the capping layup that put SU up 33-17.
• Salisbury kept the lead in the mid-teens through the end of the second, carrying a 40-25 cushion into the half.
• Layups by Nieberlein and Cora Shafer and another and-one from Miller quickly increased the margin to 47-25 within the opening minute-plus of the third quarter. SU eventually built its lead as high as 23 in the period after a Sym Deloatch layup made it 51-28 at the 5:52 mark.
• Wilson answered with a seven-point swing in the next minute and got as close as 54-41 with 1:50 to go. The Sea Gulls stabilized from there, though, and Plaugher scored the final five points of the period with a trey and two from the line to rebuild the advantage to 61-42.
• Plaugher and Miller connected from distance to set the tone for the fourth quarter. SU went up by as many as 30 in the final session, and Deloatch's layup in the final two minutes secured the final margin at 82-54.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Nicole Miller paced the Sea Gull offense with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Miller also hauled in five rebounds and distributed three assists.
• Abby Plaugher matched Miller with 20 points off the bench, shooting 7-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-7 from long-range, as well as six boards.
• Cora Shafer approached a double-double with 12 points (6-of-9) and nine rebounds, plus four assists.
• Sym Deloatch scored a career-high 12 points (5-of-8) with five boards.
• Ainsley Raybold dished out eight of SU's 20 assists on the night.
• Salisbury shot 44.6 percent (33-of-74) from the floor and went 10-of-14 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe. SU scored 20-plus points in all four quarters.
• SU outrebounded the Phoenix 50-38, including 20-17 on the offensive glass.
• The Sea Gulls were plus-six in the turnover margin, forcing 24 Wilson giveaways.

WILSON GAME NOTES

• Yaya Cannon led the Phoenix with 12 points and four assists.
• Adrianna Stricek notched a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
• Jewels Torres netted 10 points, going 8-of-10 from the line.
• The Phoenix converted 29.6 percent (16-of-54) of their field goals for the night.

UP NEXT

• The Sea Gulls return to Salisbury to host Penn State Abington on Saturday afternoon.
• Tipoff from Maggs Physical Activities Center is slated for 2 p.m.
• Saturday's game will serve as Local Schools Day for the women's basketball program, complete with photo and autograph opportunities with the team for area students.

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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.