SALISBURY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROUTS EASTERN, 75-39
Merkel Leads Sea Gull Attack With 27 Points; SU Now 2-0

GLASSBORO, NJ *  Sophomore guard Monica Merkel (Frederick, MD/St. John's
Prospect Hall) scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Salisbury
University over Eastern University, 75-39 in the Holiday Inn Runnemede Classic
on Saturday.

Salisbury has an overall record of 2-0 while Neumann is 0-2 on the season.  In
the first round of the classic on Friday, Salisbury defeated Neumann, 99-82
while host Rowan had a 77-59 win over Eastern. 

Merkel was 11 for 19 from the floor with one three and four for seven from the
line.  Sophomore guard Meghan Phillips (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Borough)
contributed with nine points and seven boards while senior guard Christen Barney
(Runnemede, NJ/Overbrook) added eight points.

Salisbury senior forward Kiera Watkins (Springfield, VA/Lake Braddock) and
Barney were named to the All-Classic team.  They were joined by Eastern
sophomore guard Patrice Freeman (New Castle, DE/New Castle Baptist). 

Eastern was led by center Elizabeth Luehman with 13 points and eight rebounds. 
Forward Abbey Reed followed with 10 points and six boards.  Freeman totaled
seven points and seven rebounds.

At the half, the Seagulls were ahead 36-16.  Merkel scored 11 of her 27 points
in the first period.  At 17:03, Salisbury led by one (5-4).  The Seagulls pulled
away with 12 straight points in a six minute span to lead 17-4..  Watkins had
two baskets in the run.  Salisbury had eight unanswered points for an 18 point
advantage (30-12) with 2:55 left.      

In the final half, Merkel had a layup and a foul shot to lead 49-20 at 16:39. 
The Seagulls led by 36 (58-22) after Phillips hit a basket.  Salisbury had its
biggest margin of 40 (69-29) after Merkel's jumper with 5:57 remaining in the
game.

The women's basketball team will return to action Tuesday as they travel to
Dover, Delaware to take on the Wolverines of Wesley. Tip-off is scheduled for
5:30 p.m.