SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University women's basketball program picked up a 66-64 win in the Governors Challenge Collegiate title game against Immaculata University Sunday afternoon inside the Wicomico County Civic Center.
Kayla Nieberlein scored a game-winning floater as time expired after hustling for an offensive rebound with just three seconds left.
The Sea Gull (4-2) offense clicked on all cylinders in the first, earning a 23-15 lead heading into the second quarter of action. The Mighty Macs (3-2) responded in the second, outscoring Salisbury 18-9. Immaculata led 33-32 at the half.
In a game that had 10 ties and 21 lead changes, the second half proved to be worth the price of admission into this weekend's Governors Challenge Collegiate. The Sea Gulls earned a one-point advantage heading into the final quarter of action.
With under two minutes left,
Keturah Stewart drilled a three-pointer to give SU a two-point lead. Moments later, after the Mighty Macs were able to tie the game, Nieberlein hustled after an offensive rebound to get a floater up as the buzzer sounded, and she drilled it. The Gulls are now the first-ever Governors Challenge Collegiate Champions.
Nieberlein finished with seven points and 11 rebounds. Stewart posted 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
Game Notes
- Abby Plaugher led the Sea Gulls with 15 points while also adding five rebounds.
- Nicole Miller and Sayuri Penaranda both tallied seven points while combining for five rebounds.
- SU posted 16 second-chance points, winning the rebound battle 40-31.
- Both teams shot right at 40 percent from the field for the game and combined for 21 total turnovers.
The Sea Gulls are back home inside Maggs Gymnasium next Saturday, Nov. 29
th, at 4 p.m. when they host Gallaudet University.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's 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 won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 206 conference championships, and have produced 53 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
