SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — On the first day of the Puerto Rico Classic, senior Leanna Heitmann (East Syracuse, N.Y.) secured her third double-double this season, but the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball team dropped a 70-58 contest against Salisbury University at the Coliseo Guillermo Angulo on Sunday. The Wolves moved to 3-7 overall, while the Sea Gulls improved to 8-4. Heitmann recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds, along with a pair of assists and a steal, while classmate Sara Macary (Naugatuck, Conn.) joined her in double-figures with 14 points.

Fatama Barrie (Staten Island, N.Y.) opened up the scoring in the first quarter off a rebound in the paint to put WestConn up 2-0, but the teams traded for the first three minutes until Salisbury went on a 7-0 run for a 10-4 edge. The Wolves matched the opposing offense with a 5-0 run of their own to narrow the gap to one. With 39 seconds in the opening quarter, the Sea Gulls took an eight-point lead off a made free throw by Abby Plaugher for a score of 17-9. Julyssa Patterson (Waterbury, Conn.) closed out the quarter with two free throws to cut the deficit to six.

Halfway into the second period, Macary went on a 4-0 solo run and brought WestConn within three off two made free throws and a jumper in the paint, but Salisbury maintained the 23-20 advantage. The Wolves closed out the half off a jumper by Deona Garcia (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) for a 33-26 game going into the locker room. The Sea Gulls continued to dominate in the third and outscored WestConn 19-12.

Heitmann opened the fourth period with a deep three from beyond the arc off the pass from Niyama Adadevoh (Amherst, Mass.) 11 seconds in, but Salisbury still held the 52-11 lead. The Wolves rallied for a 7-2 run ignited by a defensive rebound from Heitmann to cut the gap to 12 in a 63-49 game. During the stretch, Heitmann went to the line for two and converted a layup in the paint, while Garcia drilled a three-pointer and Macary connected for two from the charity stripe.

WestConn faces Wilkes University for the second day of the Puerto Rico Classic at noon EST on Tuesday, December 30.