SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - The Salisbury University women's basketball program opened up the Puerto Rico Tournament with a 70-58 win over Western Connecticut State Sunday afternoon inside Coliseo Roger Mendoza.
Salisbury (8-4) did not let the travel get to them early in the contest, as they were able to outscore Western Connecticut State (3-7) 17-11 in the first quarter of action. This scoring difference, along with the third quarter, would prove to be the difference for the Sea Gulls. SU hit three three-pointers in the first quarter and shot 43 percent from the field while holding WCSU to just 27 percent from the field in the first quarter.
The offense woke up in the second quarter for WCSU, shooting 42 percent while SU only shot 23 percent. The Sea Gulls still outscored the Wolves 16-15 in the quarter and earned a seven-point lead at the halftime break.
Salisbury stretched that lead to 14 points after the third quarter of action, after outscoring WCSU 19-12 and shooting 53 percent from the floor. The Wolves went on to win the fourth quarter 20-18, but the deficit the Sea Gulls were able to create was too tough to mount for the Wolves.
SU posted four different players in double figures.
Keturah Stewart and
Abby Plaugher both tallied 14 points.
Nicole Miller scored 13, while
Kayla Nieberlein posted 10 points. Stewart added six rebounds with three assists, Plaugher grabbed five rebounds, Miller dished out seven assists with four rebounds, and Nieberlein had six rebounds and two steals.
Game Notes
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Jen Juhring posted six points and six rebounds, while
Sayuri Penaranda scored six points as well.
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Izzy Diaz tallied seven rebounds to lead the Sea Gulls, along with two assists and a block.
- SU won the rebound battle 37-32.
- Both teams shot 36 percent from the field.
- Salisbury scored 16 second-chance points on 17 offensive rebounds.
- SU also scored 18 points off turnovers, forcing 20 turnovers from the Wolves.
The Sea Gulls are right back in action from Puerto Rico tomorrow when they take on King's College (Pa.) at 12 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. AST.
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.
