WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Monica Merkel scored a game-high 14 points, and Marissa Manzo recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead Salisbury past Norwich, 68-52, in a women's basketball game Friday evening.

Ally Daniels and Natalie Marchese led Norwich (1-8) with 13 points apiece, while Laural McWilliams added 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds for the Cadets. Erica Rate chipped in nine points.

Salisbury (4-6) jumped out to a quick 13-2 lead at the 15:25 mark, and extended its lead to 21-7 with 10:52 to play before halftime. Norwich chipped away at the 14-point deficit with a quick 8-0 spurt to trim Salisbury's advantage to 21-15 less than two minutes later. Marchese sparked the run with five points, including a three-pointer.

A free throw by Marchese brought Norwich to within five points at 21-16 with 6:53 remaining in the stanza, but Salisbury outscored NU, 9-2, over the next few minutes to take a 30-18 lead with 4:12 showing on the first half clock. Salisbury extended its lead to 16 points at 34-18 at the 2:42 mark, but Norwich closed the period on an 8-3 run to cut Salisbury's lead to 37-26 at the break.

The teams went back and forth to start the second half and Salisbury held a 46-33 lead at the 15:10 mark. An impressive 11-0 Norwich run brought the Cadets to within 46-44 at the 12:02 mark, but that was as close as NU would get.

Salisbury responded by scoring the next six points to open up a 52-44 lead with 8:22 to play. Norwich trimmed its deficit to six points at 54-48 with at the 6:40 mark, but Salisbury outscored the Cadets, 14-4, down the stretch to pull away for the 16-point victory.

Lindsay Martin added 13 points for Salisbury, while Shaniece Roseborough chipped in 12 points.

Norwich will play in the consolation game of the King's College Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 5, when the Cadets battle King's College. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.