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SALISBURY, Md. -- Taking on an undefeated and 20th-ranked Salisbury University squad, the Captains had their hands full against a veteran Sea Gulls squad Wednesday afternoon, in CAC action. Despite trailing by as many as 14 in the second half, CNU clawed their way back to within one point late in the game, but was unable to complete the road comeback as Salisbury held on for a 62-58 victory. Senior Camry Green collected her eighth double-double of the season with a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. 

CNU sees its six-game winning streak come to a close, as the Captains fall to 7-3 overall, 3-1 in league play, while Salisbury runs its season-opening win streak to eight games with a perfect 3-0 mark in conference action. The Captains battled from the opening tip as both programs displayed disciplined defense, resulting in just 26 foul calls and 20 free-throw attempts. 

In the first half, CNU hit over 54% of its shots, but still trailed the home team by eight at halftime, 36-28. Turnovers plagued the Captains as Salisbury forced 14 giveaways with seven steals. Offensively, the Sea Gulls were hot from long range, making up for the disparity in shooting efficiency by knocking down six three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes. Anna Hackett, Sarah Seipp and Courtney McManus all hit a pair in the first half while the two former led all scorers with eight points. 

On CNU's side of the ball, rookie Sam Porter was 4-for-4 in the first half and also finished with eight points. Green was well on her way to a double-double with six points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. 

In the second half, the Captains stayed the course, looking to pound the ball inside. Momentum continued to swing in favor of Salisbury, though, as the Sea Gulls hit their first three shots to take a game-high 14-point edge at 42-28. CNU responded with an 8-0 spurt of their own to get it back to five, 42-37, but Salisbury matched the Captains shot for shot the rest of the way, holding onto a 5-9 point edge throughout the final ten minutes. 

With the clock ticking away and both teams held without a point for over two-and-a-half minutes late in the contest, it was a layup by Porter followed by a bucket from Green that finally saw the Captains inch within one point, 56-55, with 1:52 remaining. After a pair of Julia McLaughlin jumpers stretched it back to five, rookie Bailey Dufrene drilled a long-range three-pointer from the top of the key to make it a one possession game with 17 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, CNU had three fouls to give before Salisbury would be forced to go to the free-throw line, ripping away pivotal final seconds. Finally, Sarah Seipp hit both of her attempts on the one-and-one with four seconds left, pushing it to a two-possession game.

Green and Porter again led the way in the second half, as both finished with a team-high 17 points. The senior also collected a game-high 11 boards as CNU outrebounded the nationally-ranked Sea Gulls, 35-32, and outscored the home team in the paint, 40-26. 

Hackett tallied a game-high 18 points on 6-12 shooting, while Seipp and McLaughlin each chipped in 14. 

CNU will now take nearly two weeks off for the holiday break before returning to action on December 30 against Eastern Mennonite in the non-conference finale. That game is scheduled to tip at 2:00 pm.