BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Salisbury University women's basketball team battled all game but were ultimately clipped by the Neumann University Knights 71-61 to conclude the Steel Club Classic Saturday afternoon at Johnston Hall.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neumann started the contest with a five-point run but baskets by Kayla Nieberlein and Alex Bull brought Salisbury within one. A three-pointer by Abby Plaugher put the Sea Gulls out in front with just a little over five minutes left in the opening quarter.
• Terea Hunt's layup with three minutes left brought the Knights back even with Salisbury. Nicole Miller and Cora Shafer extended the lead for the Sea Gulls, finishing the first quarter with a three-point lead.
• Shafer and Bull opened the second quarter with a pair of threes to pad Salisbury's lead. The two teams went back and forth for the rest of the quarter with the Knights able to head into halftime with the lead.
• Much like the second quarter, the third was a consistent battle between the Knights and the Sea Gulls. Salisbury, supported by a trio of three-pointers, outscored Neumann 16-15 to cut the deficit to just one heading into the fourth quarter.
• The Sea Gulls took the lead to start the final quarter courtesy of a jumper by Nieberlein. The Knights responded with a  13-4 run over the next four minutes to retake the lead for good.

 
SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Alex Bull led the Sea Gulls with 13 points, going 5-of-14 from the floor including a three, and added six rebounds as well. For her efforts in both games during the tournament, Bull was named to the All-Tournament Team.
• Cora Shafer scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 1-of-1 from beyond the arc, and grabbed six rebounds.
• Abby Plaugher provided nine points as she went 3-of-5 overall while also dishing out an assist.
• The Sea Gulls knocked down 25-of-61 overall, including 8-of-16 from three, and 3-of-6 at the free throw line.

 
NEUMANN GAME NOTES

• Lauren Klieber scored a game-high 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor while also snagging seven rebounds.
• Terea Hunt added 19 points, going 7-of-12 overall with four rebounds and two assists.
• Emily DuPont provided 17 points, hitting 6-of-12 from the floor, and grabbed seven boards while also dishing out two assists.
• The Knights went 24-of-58 from the floor, 8-of-16 from beyond the arc, and 15-of-17 at the charity stripe.

 
UP NEXT

• Salisbury will bring in the new year at home as they welcome the Shenandoah University Hornets on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
• The game will serve as Camper Appreciation Day, with tip-off at Maggs scheduled 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.