NEWPORT NEWS, VA. – The Salisbury University women's basketball program traveled to Newport News, Va. for a Coast-to-Coast Conference showdown against No. 25 Christopher Newport University Saturday afternoon where they came out victorious 71-67 in overtime inside the Freeman Center. This is the first win for the program over the Captains since 2015.
The Sea Gull (11-6) offense came out firing, starting the game on a 6-0 run over the Captains (15-4). SU went on to win the quarter 21-16 and held CNU to just 24 percent shooting from the floor. Salisbury hit four threes on just six attempts from three-point range in the quarter as well.
The shooting struggle continued for CNU in the second shooting just 30 percent from the floor, but the Sea Gulls also struggled. The Captains outscored SU 16-6 in the second quarter. Salisbury struggled shooting only hitting 13 percent of its shots in the quarter. SU trailed by five points at the halftime break.
Both offenses started slow in the third period after halftime, combining for only seven points in the first five minutes of the quarter. SU went down 11 at one point in the third, but finished the quarter on a 11-7 run, heading into the final quarter of play trailing by five.
Nicole Miller scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, bringing the Sea Gulls within one.
Abby Plaugher would continue the run for SU, giving them the lead with just under seven minutes remaining. The final quarter of action paid for the price of admission for fans inside the Freeman Center. It included four lead changes and two ties. Miller hit a layup with nine seconds remaining off an assist from Plaugher to send the game into overtime.
Miller would give SU the early overtime lead after a pair of free throws. After the Captains were able to tie the game,
Keturah Stewart drilled a three with just over two minutes remaining. The Sea Gulls took the lead and never gave it up. This snapped an 18-game losing streak against CNU for SU. The last win in 2015 also came on the road in Newport News.
Game Notes
- Miller finished with a game-high 28 points with five assists and two rebounds.
- Plaugher tallied 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Kayla Nieberlein posted 10 points with six rebounds.
- Stewart finished with five points, seven assists, seven rebounds, and six steals.
- Salisbury held CNU to just 29 percent shooting from the field and 14 percent from the three-point line.
- The game included five ties and eight lead changes, which most all came in the fourth quarter and overtime.
The Sea Gulls are back on the road against St. Mary's College of Maryland on January 20
th at 5 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.
