Box Score SALEM, W. Va. (Dec. 17, 2017) – After a strong first quarter, the Salem University Tigers women's basketball team faltered in the second half, losing 66-50 to the Urbana University Blue Knights on the first day of the Salem University Holiday Invitational.
A strong defensive first quarter, holding Urbana to 3-for-15 shooting, helped the Tigers put together a balanced scoring attack with six Salem players scoring—getting to the free-throw line eight times, hitting seven.
But the longer the game went on, the more the short-handed Tigers' depth was exposed, scoring just 20 points in the second half after taking a 30-26 lead into halftime.
For the game, Urbana outscored Salem 23-8 in bench points with starter
Keishla Gilmore the only Tigers player in double figures with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Fatigue showed itself in the form of careless turnovers as Salem committed 21, giving Urbana a 19-5 advantage in points off turnovers. Fifteen live ball turnovers led to 12-6 Urbana edge in fast break points.
Gilmore was a blur in space, splitting the seams and getting downhill and to the rim repeatedly.
Christy Gonzalez was effective on the glass with nine rebounds in 26 minutes, providing Salem with an interior presence on both sides of the ball.
Jillian Romero battled foul trouble, filling up the box scored with six points, six rebounds and five assists before fouling out in 28 minutes.
The Tigers shot just 8-for-34 in the second half (23.5 percent), including 0-for-12 from behind the 3-point line, while committing 13 second-half turnovers.
After Urbana took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter, the Tigers cut the deficit to 53-50 on a Gilmore Layup. But Salem turned the ball over in the backcourt, missed a pair of free throws and turned it over again on three consecutive possessions to fall behind double digits again.
Sylvia Hudson led Urbana with 31 points and seven rebounds, getting deep position in the post for quick layups. Stefanie Davis finished with 10 points. The Tigers will conclude the Salem University Holiday Invitational on Monday against Seton Hill University at 4:00 p.m.
