VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's basketball team fell to the No. 33 Sea Gulls of Salisbury University on Wednesday evening in their season opener at TowneBank Arena in Virginia Beach, VA. 

GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 33 Salisbury 80 - Virginia Wesleyan 54
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 0-1 | No. 33 Salisbury 1-0
Location: TowneBank Arena | Virginia Beach, VA

INSIDE THE SCORE
Salisbury found the scoreboard first on a layup but Virginia Wesleyan took a one-point lead 3-2 following an Imani Felton three-pointer. Jessica Jennings hit another three about a minute later to put VWU up 6-2. A jumper by Celeste Rucker gave the Marlins a four-point lead, 8-4, but the Sea Gulls went on an 8-0 run to knot the score at eight all and then take a 12-8 lead with four and half to play. VWU pulled within two, 14-12 but SU took off from there to close out the opening quarter on an 8-3 run putting the score at 22-15. 

The Sea Gulls extended their lead to as many at 13 points in the second quarter leading 32-19 at the six minute mark. The Marlins cut the lead back to single digits, 32-24, on a Felton three pointer, but Salisbury went on another run to end the quarter with a 41-28 lead. 

SU maintained a double-digit lead throughout the third quarter and held the Marlins to just 14 points while scoring 20 of their own. At the end of the third quarter, Salisbury led 61-42, a 19-point advantage. 

Despite fighting hard throughout the fourth, the Marlins could not overcome the deficit in front of them as the Sea Gulls obtained a 30-point lead, 79-49, and at the final buzzer, SU led 80-54.

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Imani Felton with 14 points while Celeste Rucker tallied 11 points. Adaje Williams collected 15 rebounds to lead both teams. 

SEA GULLS LEADERS
The Sea Gulls were led by Kaylee Otlowski with 29 to go along with 11 rebounds, while Lauren Fortescue added 12 points.

UP NEXT
The Virginia Wesleyan University women's basketball team returns to the court on Saturday, Nov .13, when they head to North Carolina to face the Spirit of Salem College. Tip-off between the Marlins and Spirit is set for 1 PM in Winston-Salem, NC.