ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The Salisbury University women's basketball program fell 83-78 in overtime on its final contest of a four-game road trip against St. Mary's College of Maryland Tuesday night inside MPOARC Arena.
Both teams got off to hot shooting starts in the first quarter of action, both posting 58 percent from the floor. The Sea Gulls (11-7) knocked down two threes on four attempts, while the Seahawks (13-5) only hit one on six attempts. Salisbury committed eight turnovers to just four for the Seahawks. St. Mary's earned a 23-19 lead heading into the second quarter of action.
The Sea Gulls continued to shoot the ball well in the second quarter while also ramping up the intensity on the defensive end. SU held the Seahawks to just 36 percent shooting from the floor in the second and won the quarter 20-11. The Gulls headed into the halftime break with a five-point advantage, 39-34.
The Seahawks stormed back in the third frame, winning the quarter 18-14 and cutting the SU lead to just one as the teams headed into the final quarter of battle. Both teams shot exactly seven for 18 in the third, but the Seahawks knocked down three three-pointers to make the difference.
St. Mary's started the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run, earning a four-point lead with just under seven minutes remaining. The Sea Gulls hung around down the stretch,
Nicole Miller knocked down a layup to cut the Seahawks lead to just two with under two minutes remaining. Salisbury forced a 10-second violation with under 20 seconds remaining in the contest, giving them the ball down by two.
Kayla Nieberlein knocked down a layup off a sweet post move to send the game into overtime. The Seahawks grabbed the lead first in overtime and started on a 5-0 run. SU stood their ground and once again found their selves down two, with under a minute remaining. A late three-pointer and free throws from the Seahawks would seal the game 83-78.
Game Notes
- Miller finished with 26 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
- Abby Plaugher tallied 23 points, five assists, and four rebounds.
- Jen Juhring scored 14 points with nine rebounds, while Nieberlein finished with 10 points and four rebounds.
- The Seahawks won the rebounding battle 39-34, while both teams scored 42 points in the paint.
Salisbury is back in action at home inside Maggs Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 24
th for Alumni Day when they take on the University of Mary Washington 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.
