OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson women's basketball team was tested early, ultimately dropping the contest to the Salisbury Sea Gulls, 65-59, on Tuesday evening in the Owings Mills gymnasium.
 
Freshman forward Tessa Boswell and senior forward Maleah Smith scored 10 points each, while sophomore guard Laci Johnson scored nine points, surpassing the 40-point mark for her season total. Smith finished the night with nine rebounds, and senior forward Morgan DeBeary added five turnovers. Freshman forward Destiny Towns collected four assists after sitting out the initial matches due to injury.
 
For the Sea Gulls, freshman guard Nadia Bullock collected 18 points and also led with six rebounds.
 
The Mustangs were able to notch points on the board first with a layup from Johnson, but the Sea Gulls scored early and fast. Stevenson's Emori Jeselskis scored a three-pointer with just over two minutes in the quarter. The Mustangs ultimately were able to keep the game close as the quarter ended , 15-14, with Salisbury ahead.
 
With a battle for the second quarter lead underway, the Mustangs gained a three-point lead, with a pull up shot from Morgan Pennick with less than four minutes remaining. But the Sea Gulls pushed back, closing the second quarter on top 31-25.
 
The Mustangs trailed in the third quarter, seeing the 30-point mark with less than seven minutes remaining. Though Tessa Boswell scored a three pointer with just over six minutes left, Stevenson's push fell short as the Sea Gulls finished out the third 46-43.
 
In the fourth quarter, a shot from Morgan Pennick with 1:30 remaining brought the Mustangs closer, but they continued to trail, ending the game 65-59.



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On the season, the Mustangs are now 1-3 overall, while the Sea Gulls improve to 3-4 overall.
The Mustangs travel to Hood College to open Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play following the Thanksgiving holiday on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. The Sea Gulls travel to Rowan University on Saturday, Nov. 26 for a  3 p.m. game.