SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - The Salisbury University women's basketball program traveled to the Puerto Rico Tournament to play two games and will return to Salisbury, Md., with two wins. The Sea Gulls took down the Monarchs of King's College (Pa.) 56-53 on Monday afternoon inside Coliseo Roger Mendoza in dramatic fashion.
Both offenses got off to a slow start as the game was scoreless for the first three minutes of the contest. The Sea Gulls (9-4) edged out the Monarchs 7-5 in that first quarter. SU shot 19 percent while King's (6-3) shot just nine percent from the field. The teams combined for 0-10 from three-point range. Salisbury held King's scoreless for the first nine minutes of the contest.
The Salisbury offense woke up in the second quarter, shooting 47 percent and outscoring King's 17-10 to earn a nine-point halftime lead, 24-15. The Sea Gull defense earned 10 steals in the first half and forced 16 Monarch turnovers.
Both offenses came alive in the third quarter, both shooting above 50 percent. The Monarchs won the quarter 21-20 but still trailed by eight to the Sea Gulls heading into the final frame of action.
King's kept the momentum rolling into the fourth, holding SU scoreless for the first five minutes of the fourth and going on an 8-0 run. A three-point play for the Monarchs gave them their first lead of the game with 4:28 remaining. The Sea Gulls remained scoreless for the first six minutes of the final quarter.
Salisbury trailed by one with 30 seconds remaining.
Abby Plaugher headed to the free-throw line and knocked both shots down to give Salisbury the one-point lead, 54-53. Salisbury then forced a turnover on the following possession to earn the victory after a couple of free throws from Plaugher closed the Monarchs out. SU closed the game on a 10-4 run.
Plaugher finished with eight points and 11 rebounds, while
Jen Juhring tallied 10 points with nine rebounds.
Nicole Miller led the Sea Gulls with 12 points.
Game Notes
- Salisbury was able to win the game without hitting a single three-pointer. They finished 0-14, while King's only shot 3-19 from downtown.
- SU scored 21 points off turnovers with 13 steals. The Monarchs turned the ball over 24 times.
- Salisbury won the rebound battle 38-29 and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds for 12 second-chance points.
The Sea Gulls are back in Maggs Gymnasium on Saturday, January 3rd, when they host Gwynedd Mercy University for Youth Day at 2 p.m.
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.
