BALTIMORE, Md. – The Salisbury University women's basketball program fell 76-70 Wednesday night on the road against the Notre Dame of Maryland University inside the MBK Sports Complex.
The Sea Gulls (10-6) jumped out to an early start in the first quarter, starting the game on a 7-0 run. Gators (7-7) were able to withstand the gut punch from SU and go on to win the quarter 18-15. The quarter tallied five lead changes and the Sea Gulls dominated the offensive glass earning four offensive rebounds.
Salisbury was able to win the second quarter 21-18 and headed into the halftime break in a tie ball game. The offensive rebound battle was even in the second with the Gators grabbing three and two for the Sea Gulls. Both teams were also able to shoot 50 percent from three-point range in the second.
At the half, the SU was shooting 45 percent from the floor and 57 percent from three. NDMU posted a 52 percent shooting percentage from the floor and 67 from three-point range. Salisbury earned four steals in the first half, good enough for 11 points off turnovers.
Nicole Miller led all scorers at the half with 13 on 50 percent shooting.
The third quarter proved to be the difference for the Gators as they outscored the Sea Gulls 24-13 and earned an 11-point lead heading into the final quarter of action. NDMU shot 77 percent from the floor in the quarter.
The Sea Gulls battled tough in the fourth, after the Gators started the quarter on a quick 5-0 run, SU closed the quarter 21-11. Salisbury trailed by nine with two minutes remaining.
Keturah Stewart rattled off a quick five points to being the deficit to just four with 48 seconds remaining.
Abby Plaugher drilled a jump shot with just under 40 seconds left, cutting the Gators lead to just two. NDMU responded with a floater to close the game with under 15 seconds remaining, followed by a pair of free throws.
Game Notes
- Miller finished with 18 points, which led all scorers, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
- Kisa Lilly posted a career-high in assists with seven. She also added four rebounds, three points, and twos steals.
- SU posted four players in double figures including Miller. Plaugher, Stewart, and Kayla Nieberlein all tallied 14 points. Nieberlein added eight rebounds as well.
- Salisbury won the rebound battle 35-30 but were outshot at the free throw line by 11.
The Sea Gulls will travel to Newport News, Va. for a C2C showdown with rival Christopher Newport University on Saturday 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 54 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.
