YORK, PA – The York College women's basketball squad put together one of their best defensive efforts of the year as the Spartans rolled past Salisbury University 74-51 in Capital Athletic Conference play on Saturday in York. The Spartans have won six of their last seven including their last three in a row. The game also marked the return of All-CAC forward Sam Hruz as she had missed the last three games due to injury.

RECORDS

Salisbury: 8-7, 4-4 CAC

York (Pa.): 11-4, 5-3 CAC

TEAM STATS

FG Shooting (%): York 31-for-61 (50.8%), SU 20-for-77 (26.0%)

Three Point Shooting (%): York 6-for-15 (40%), SU 1-for-8 (12.5%)

Free Throw Shooting (%): York 6-for-13 (46.2%), SU 10-for-17 (58.9%)

Rebounding: York 42, SU 54

Assists: York 20, SU 12

Turnovers: York 17, SU 19

Blocked Shots: York 4, SU 3

Steals: York 9, SU 11

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• The opening minutes of the game were back and forth as the teams were tied at seven 5:10 into the game. The Spartans ripped off a 12-4 run over the final 4:13 of the quarter. The run was fueled by Sam Mocniak as the junior drained back-to-back three pointers. Lauren Rothfeld scored back-to-back baskets for Salisbury to cut York's lead to four but Katie McGowan scored the final four points of the quarter, giving York a 19-11 lead after one quarter of play. York held the Sea Gulls to 5-of-22 shooting from the floor and forced five Sea Gull turnovers.

• The Spartans used the second quarter to pull away from Salisbury. York scored six of the first eight points of the quarter to push out to a 25-13 lead. Salisbury cut the lead to 10 but York closed out the half with a 10-3 run to take a 35-18 lead to the intermission. York held Salisbury to just 2-of-13 shooting from the floor while they forced seven turnovers.

• The Green and White kept the beat going in the third quarter. The Spartans extended their lead to 20 on a McGowan lay up with 4:58 left in the third. The lead bounced between 18 and 20 points before the Spartans ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to push the lead to 25 (59-34). York went 10-for-16 from the floor including 2-for-2 from three as the Spartans outscored the Gulls 24-16 in the third.

• The Spartans cooled off in the fourth but the Green and White coasted to the win. York extended the lead to 28 on a Sarah Shearer three pointer before the Spartans settled for the 23-point victory.

SPARTAN LEADERS

Katie McGowan: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocked shots, 8-for-12 from the floor

Morgan Kuehne: 15 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 7-for-10 from the floor

Sarah Shearer: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 4-for-6 from the floor, 2-for-3 from the FT line

Sam Hruz: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 5-for-6 from the floor

SEA GULLS LEADERS

Lauren Rothfeld: 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals, 1 assist

Mary McDonagh: 6 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds

Paige Bryce: 11 rebounds, 2 points, 2 blocked shots, 1 assist

GAME NOTES

York is now 19-20 all-time against the Sea Gulls as York has won four straight against Salisbury … The Spartans are 11-9 all-time against the Gulls at home … the Spartans won the game despite allowing 31 offensive rebounds for the Sea Gulls … Salisbury got 21 second chance points off those 31 offensive boards … York outscored Salisbury 40-20 in the paint … York turned Salisbury's 19 turnovers into 20 points … the Spartan bench outscored their counterparts 49-14 … York is now 10-0 when leading at the half … York is now 6-0 when shooting over 45% from the floor … York is now 5-0 when having more assists (20) than turnovers (17) … after shooting 80% (24-for-30) from the line in the win over Frostburg, the Spartans went a season-worst 6-for-13 (46.2%) from the free throw line in the win … the Spartans shot over 50% for the third time this year (vs. Pitt-Greensburg and Alvernia) … the Spartans were an efficient 6-for-15 (40%) from three … senior Sam Hruz made a significant impact on her return to the Spartan lineup as she had 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 20 minutes of work … Hruz was a highly efficient 5-for-6 from the floor with her only miss coming from three … sophomore Katie McGowan set a new career-high as the forward had 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor while she hit her lone free throw for the game … McGowan also had eight rebounds and three blocked shots … the eight rebounds tied McGowan's career high that she set twice against Frostburg State (1/11/17 and 1/20/16) … McGowan's three blocked shots also set a new career standard … McGowan has reached double figures in scoring in five of her last seven games … junior Morgan Kuehne has reached double figures in her last four games as she is averaging 17.3 points per game in her last four games … Kuehne is 28-for-55 (51%) from the floor in the last four games … senior Sarah Shearer had a season-high 11 points as she was 4-for-6 from the floor including a three pointer and a 2-for-3 performance at the free throw line … Shearer, McGowan and Hruz combined to score 38 points off the bench for York.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS. SALISBURY (3-2)

Feb. 23, 2016 @ York, Win, 54-52 – CAC First Round

Jan. 30, 2016 @ York, Win, 58-47

Jan. 6, 2016 @ Salisbury, Win, 80-74 in OT

Feb. 26, 2015 @ Salisbury, Loss, 76-61 – CAC Semifinals

Feb. 21, 2015 @ York, Loss, 75-69

UP NEXT

The Spartans return to action on Wednesday evening as they kick off a two game road trip with a trek to St. Mary's City, Maryland to face the Seahawks in a Capital Athletic Conference contest. Tip time at the ARC Sports Arena is set for 6:00 pm.

Katie McGowan photo courtesy of Shane Guise - Athletic Communications Student Photographer

Audio highlights courtesy of Darrell Henry