BALTIMORE, Md. – A new era for the Salisbury University women's basketball team began on the right foot as the Sea Gulls delivered head coach Aprile Preller a 63-41 win over the Notre Dame (Md.) Gators on Wednesday evening at the Marion Burk Knott Sports Complex.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Sea Gulls endured a slow start, falling behind 12-2 by the 3:23 mark of the first quarter. SU closed the opening period on an 8-2 push, led by a pair of Kayla Nieberlein buckets, to get within 14-10.
• Down 19-12 midway through the second quarter, Abby Plaugher drilled a three-pointer to spark a 13-3 Sea Gull run. Alex Bull nailed a three to give SU its first lead at 23-22 and sank a jumper moments leader to make it 25-22 with 41 seconds until halftime.
• The Gators drew even at the buzzer as Ny'Asia Futrell was fouled from deep and hit all three free throws, sending it into halftime tied 25-25.
• After the teams exchanged blows to start the third quarter, a Nicole Miller triple at the 8:21 mark put Salisbury ahead for good at 30-28. Bull followed up with her own trey moments later, but Futrell answered with two foul shots to bring Notre Dame within 33-30.
• The Sea Gulls clamped down from there as a Nieberlein layup set off an 18-1 extended swing to close out the third. Nieberlein, Bull, and Cora Shafer combined for 15 of the 18 points to help the SU lead balloon to 51-31.
• Salisbury built its lead as large as 24 points on Miller and Shafer baskets that made it 55-31 at the 7:02 mark of the fourth quarter. The Gators never got closer than 18 the rest of the way, and the Sea Gulls left town with a comfortable 63-41 margin of victory.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Kayla Nieberlein nearly tripled her career high with 14 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Nieberlein also hauled in seven rebounds.
• Alex Bull tied for the team lead with 14 points, plus six rebounds and three assists.
• Cora Shafer approached a double-double in her collegiate debut with eight points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
• Nicole Miller chipped in seven points, while Hailey Ader and Abby Plaugher netted six apiece.
• The Sea Gulls shot 40 percent (22-of-55) from the floor, including 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) during a 26-6 third quarter. SU made 7-of-19 (36.8 percent) three-pointers and 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the free-throw line.
• Salisbury assisted on 17 of its 22 field goals, led by five helpers from Tatiana Virata.
• SU outrebounded the Gators 42-38 and won the turnover battle 22-21.
• The win is the first for new Salisbury head coach Aprile Preller, who was hired in May to lead her alma mater.

NOTRE DAME GAME NOTES

• Amani Watts supplied over half of the Gators' offense with 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting. She also recorded a double-double by hauling in 10 rebounds.
• Ny'Asia Futrell scored eight points with three steals, while Charlie Henry added five points.
• The Gators made just 24.1 percent (13-of-54) from the floor, going 0-of-6 from deep and 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) from the charity stripe.
• Notre Dame edged out SU on the offensive glass, 17-14.

UP NEXT

• The Sea Gulls will head to Grantham, Pa. for the Messiah Tip-Off Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
• SU is slated to face TCNJ on Friday at 5 p.m. and will face either hosts Messiah or Delaware Valley on Saturday at a time to be determined.

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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, 196 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.