BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Capital University women's basketball team (6-4, 2-2 OAC) played their first of two games in the Moravian Steel Club Classic on Friday, facing off with Salisbury (6-8, 0-0 C2C). The Comets would come away with a dominant win, 68-45. 

The victory sets up a matchup with head coach Camille McPherson's alma mater Moravian. Coach McPherson spent six years at Moravian – four as a player and two as a graduate assistant – where she was a 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-American, two-time D3Hoops.com All-Region selection, three-time First Team All-Conference honoree, and a two-time All-American Honorable Mention, as well as being a two-year team captain and leading the Greyhounds to a 2016 NCAA Tournament appearance. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 
Capital put up a strong first half, holding Salisbury to just 16 points – eight in each quarter – and scoring 35 of their own to lead by 19 points at the break. CU's three-point shooting was at its strongest in the second quarter, going 4-for-6 (66.7%). Laney Murphy led the Comets in the half with 14 points, followed by Bri O'Connor (6) and Samaree Perkins (6).

The third quarter was a little more closely contested as Capital would only put up two more points than their competition, 18-16 in the period, leaving the scoreline at 53-32 heading into the final frame. The highlight of the half came as the Comets started the fourth quarter with a 15-1 run to swell their lead to a game-high 33 points, 66-33 with just over three minutes left. Salisbury would close the gap in the waning moments but it was too-little-too-late as the Purple and White walked away with a 23-point win, 68-45.

THE NUMBERS
Laney Murphy was the game's leading scorer with 18 points including five three-pointers. She also recorded three rebounds. 

Samaree Perkins put up yet another double-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and one assist.

Bri O'Connor scored 10 rebounds with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal. 

Maddi Weiland had seven points with six rebounds, and two steals. 

Kendall Spreen scored six points with one assist and one steal. 

Demi Brewer and Kenzie Weiland both scored four points. Brewer had an additional  five assists, four rebounds, three steals, and one block, while Weiland would get one rebound, one assist, and one steal.

UP NEXT
Capital will be back on the court tomorrow against host-school Moravian. Tip-off between the Comets and the Greyhounds is set for 1 p.m.