ARLINGTON, Va.— The third-seeded Marymount (Va.) University women's basketball squad toppled sixth-seeded Salisbury University in the first round of the Capital Athletic Conference tournament on Tuesday night in the Verizon Sports Arena, 58-44. 

The women got off to a riveting start in the first quarter, notching a 6-0 lead to get started. Sophomore Tyffani McQueen put away back-to back layups followed by a bucket from underneath by junior Leah Hurst. Salisbury remained within striking distance after hitting two shots from beyond the arc, but Marymount, however, kept pushing on the offensive end maintaining a six-point lead at the end of the first 10-minute stretch, 12-6.   

McQueen went to work again early in the second quarter, sinking two free throws at the line to extend the Saints' lead to eight. The blue and white kept up the tenacious effort on both ends of the court, garnering six offensive rebounds for six additional points in the quarter and ran the floor for four more on the fast break. The overall team effort pushed the Saints ahead by 10 heading in the half, 24-14. McQueen paced the Saints after bolstering 10 points and four rebounds. 

Senior Kiki Laux stepped back for a deep jumper to open the second half. MU continued to beat SU down the floor, building a 14-point lead through the third quarter, 32-18. The Sea Gulls were forced to burn a timeout, but it proved ineffective as junior Nicole Viscuso answered with a jumper. Laux finished the quarter with back-to-back jumpers, giving the blue and white a 20-point advantage, 46-26. 

The Saints stayed quiet through the first few minutes in the fourth, burning as much time on the clock as possible each possession. Down the stretch, Marymount knocked down eight-straight free throws to prevail on top, 58-44. 

Laux paced the Saints on the offensive end, registering a game-high 17 points, followed by McQueen who notched 16 points and seven rebounds. 

The blue and white will head to second-seeded University of Mary Washington for a semifinal matchup on Thursday, February 23. The Saints will have an opportunity for retribution after falling to the Eagles in the 2016 CAC Championship. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., in Fredericksburg, Virginia.