CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (November 15, 2014) – Despite a pair of double-doubles, the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team fell 62-57 to Salisbury University Saturday night in their season opener.  
 
The loss puts Stevens' record at 0-1 to start the season while Salisbury moved to 1-0.
 
The Sea Gulls jumped out to a 17-10 lead midway through the first half behind a strong offensive effort that saw them shooting 50 percent from the field. The deficit ballooned to 11 shortly after, but the Ducks rebounded with a series of unanswered points.
 
A three from junior Dylan Krause with nine minutes to go sparked an 11-0 run for Stevens, highlighted by six points from junior Miranda Ripken. During the stretch, the Ducks defense forced four Salisbury turnovers.
 
Salisbury recovered with five unanswered, but a pair of free throws from junior Kaitlyn Astel with five seconds to go cut the deficit to 32-31 going into the break.
 
Both teams went back and forth to start the second half with Stevens pulling within one once again with 14 minutes to go after a layup from sophomore Brittany Washington. Salisbury was able to hold off the charge though, maintaining at least a four point lead over the next six minutes.
 
A Ripken jumper with just over a minute to go cut the lead to three before a Washington layup did the same with 40 seconds remaining. That's as close as the Ducks would get though as the Sea Gulls converted a pair of free throws with under 10 seconds to go to clinch the 62-57 win.
 
Washington led the Ducks with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds while Brown also recorded a double-double of 11 points and 12 boards in her collegiate debut. Krause chipped in with 12 points and four assists.
 
As a team, the Ducks shot 36.2 percent from the field and outrebounded Salisbury 49-39.
 
The Ducks will battle Arcadia University tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the tournament consolation game.
 
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