NCAA Women's Basketball Bracket

The Salisbury women's basketball team advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 with a 61-54 victory over Stockton in the second round on Saturday at Maggs Physical Activities Center. 

The Sea Gulls (27-2) will face off against Amherst (25-3) on Friday in the Sweet 16 at a location yet to be determined. Montclair State (28-1) and Bowdoin (25-4) will meet in the other regional semifinal. 

This marks Salisbury's first Sweet 16 appearance since 2002 and the third time in the last four years that a CAC team has advanced to the final 16. 

Anna Hackett led all scorers with 21 points, while Lauren Rothfeld tallied 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Sarah Seipp added seven points, seven steals, four boards and four assists for the Gulls, while Julia McLaughlin notched 10 rebounds, six points, three steals and two blocks. 

Lauren Alwan led Stockton with 17 points and six rebounds, with Sara Farrell adding 14 points in the loss. 

Salisbury started off strong, jumping out to a 12-3 leading after the first eight minutes of play. The Ospreys fought back, however, taking a 35-30 edge into the halftime break. 

Trailing 37-34 with 17:32 remaining in the second half, the Sea Gulls exploded with a 27-6 run over the ensuing 11 minutes to take a commanding 61-43 edge with just over six minutes left. Salisbury was held scoreless over the final six minutes, but the Sea Gulls' lead proved big enough as they ousted Stockton by the final 61-54 margin.