Salem University connected on eight of its first 11 shots to build a seven-goal halftime lead and the Tigers went on to defeat Gannon University 13-9 to wrap up day two of the Bucknell Invite in women's water polo Saturday at Lewisburg, Pa. Annefleur ten Bloemendal led the Tigers with four goals, while Maryanna Antoniou added three goals.
 
The win gave Salem a split on the day after falling to George Washington University 12-10. A late rally came up short as the Tigers scored three goals in the final two minutes.
 
Salem (5-2) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead against Gannon as ten Bloemendal scored a pair of goals in the first 96 seconds of the contest. After Gannon got on the scoreboard, the Tigers answered with goals by Margherita Garibbo and Courtney O'Shaughnessy. After allowing Gannon a goal with 1:39 left in the opening period, Salem held the Knights scoreless the remainder of the half.
 
Elizabeth Elliot gave Salem a 5-2 first period lead with a late power play goal and Beatrice Popescu and Margherita Garibbo scored 36 seconds apart in the opening minute-plus of the second period. Chloe Woodbine found Antoniou with 5:45 remaining before halftime for the Tigers' eighth goal.
 
Antoniou scored again with one second left to give Salem a 9-2 lead at the break.
 
Nicole Wiemken ended Gannon's scoring drought 33 seconds into the third period and scored all the goals in a 3-0 scoring run to pull the Knights within 9-5. But that was as close as Gannon would get as Antoniou and O'Shaughnessy sandwiched goals around a Knight goal.
 
Salem went into the final period with a 12-6 lead after a ten Bloemendal power play goal late in the third. Gannon again pulled within four goals, but ten Bloemendal converted another power play goal with 1:13 left to play to seal the win.
 
Erin Zappia finished with a game-high five assists, while Philippa Piper recorded 10 saves in goal for the Tigers.
 
Salem trailed George Washington 6-5 at halftime after ten Bloemendal scored a pair of goals in the final two minutes. After the Colonials scored the first two goals of the third period, the Tigers again drew within a goal with 5:36 remaining on tallies by O'Shaughnessy and Garibbo. But Salem would go scoreless over the next 11 minutes as George Washington pulled away.
 
After a power play goal with 6:03 left in the contest stretched George Washington's lead to 11-7, the Tigers created a number of scoring opportunities, but were unable to finish. A Tiger shot attempt hit the post and Colonial goalkeeper Mackenzie Matheny made a pair of saves. George Washington forced a turnover on a Salem power play opportunity and the Colonials extended their lead to five goals on their own power play goal with 3:01 remaining.
 
Piper recorded a save on a George Washington power play and after a Salem timeout, ten Bloomendal ended the Tigers' scoring drought with a goal with 2:04 left to play. Piper made another save and Garibbo's steal led to Antoniou's goal with 42 seconds left to pull the Tigers within 12-9.
 
Antoniou made a steal and drew an exclusion to give Salem a power play opportunity. Woodbine scored on an assist by Zappia with two seconds left to put Salem in double figures for the sixth consecutive game, but the Tigers could get no closer than two goals.
 
Salem was led offensively by ten Bloemendal with four goals, while Zappia contributed three assists. Piper recorded 13 saves.
 
Salem concludes play in the Bucknell Invite Sunday as the Tigers take on Long Island University. Game time is 1 p.m.