Slow Start Proves Fatal for St. Mary's at Salisbury
Salisbury, Md. - A slow start by the St. Mary's College of Maryland women's basketball team proved to be detrimental as the Seahawks suffered a 76-59 setback at the hands of conference rival, Salisbury University, Monday night.
Salisbury (5-15, 5-6 CAC) came shooting out of the gates, connecting on 51.9% of its shots. The Sea Gulls also dominated boards, out-rebounding St. Mary's, 47-28, behind junior forward Kylie Hall's (Baltimore, Md./Lansdowne) game-high 18-board performance. Hall would go on to finish the evening with a double-double as she added 16 points.
The Sea Gulls showed no mercy in opening half as SU raced out to an 11-3 lead at 15:06 and never looked back. Salisbury would continue to bolster its advantage, boasting a 15-point margin with 7:02 remaining. The Seahawks got as close as 10 but SU went on a 14-1 run in the half's final 5:11 for a 41-18 Salisbury lead at halftime.
Hall grabbed 12 of her 18 rebounds in the first half, while adding 12 points. Junior forward Janay Johnson (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville) also had a dozen for the Sea Gulls. St. Mary's was paced by senior forward Allie Scott's (Laurel, Md./Atholton) 11 points.
The Seahawks (6-13, 4-7 CAC) outscored SU, 41-35, in the second stanza but the deficit was insurmountable. However, a bright spot for St. Mary's Scott's play as she was two-points shy of matching her career-high with her game-high 27 tonight. Sophomore forward Tiara Hurte (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) also put forth a strong effort with 16 points, while senior forward Kiely Murphy (Olney, Md./Good Counsel) hauled in seven caroms.
Johnson had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Sea Gulls, while freshman guard Meghan Dunn (Olney, Md./Sherwood) chipped in 10 off the bench.
St. Mary's will return to action this Wednesday, February 4 when the Seahawks host Hood College in another Capital Athletic Conference contest at 6:00. Hurte had a career-night against the Blazers on January 10 as she poured in 23 points and grabbed 13 boards in St. Mary's 58-56 victory.
