UMES takes down Salisbury in renewal of local rivalry

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The Salisbury University women's basketball team traveled south to nearby University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Division I program, on Wednesday evening and lost the exhibition game 75-34 before 1,108 fans at the Hytche Center.

The Sea Gulls were led by senior Jessica Mills who scored a team high seven points on two buckets from the field and three points from the foul line. Salisbury held UMES at bay for part of the first half but a double-digit run by the Lady Hawks gave them a 37-18 advantage at halftime.

The second half almost mirrored the first half, as Salisbury and UMES went back-and-forth until a second double-digit run by the Lady Hawks put the game out of reach for the Sea Gulls.

Freshman Janay Johnson was tied for the team lead in rebounds with senior Jenna Peters as both Sea Gulls pulled down six boards.

As a team Salisbury shot 61 percent from the foul line and 24 percent from the field. The Sea Gull defense was able to hold the Lady Hawks to 23 percent shooting from three-point range, seven points lower than their season average from a season ago.

Head coach Bridget Benshetler was pleased with the way Salisbury played as she knew they would be undersized and outmatched entering the game.

"We didn't come in intimidated," said Benshetler. "We played hard in the beginning, we didn't give up in the middle, and we didn't give up at the end."

Tonight's game was the first time since the 1990-91 season that Salisbury and UMES played each other. In that game UMES walked away with a 92-55 win.

The Sea Gulls will open their season on Friday, November 17 at the Subway Invitational hosted by Virginia Wesleyan College as they take on Maryville (Tenn.) at 5 p.m. in Norfolk, Va.