FREDERICK, Md.--Junior guard Dyanna Prater poured in a career-high 21 points for the Hood College women's basketball team (0-5, 0-1 CAC) but the Blazers dropped their Capital Athletic Conference opener, 57-48, to the Salisbury University Sea Gulls at BB&T Arena Wednesday.

Prater knocked down 9-of-15 from the field and 3-of-4 from the foul line to eclipse her previous scoring best of 20 set last January against Wesley College. Emily Maerz contributed 10 points while Rachel Wiley finished with nine points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Salisbury maintained the upperhand throughout the contest. Hood drew even with the Sea Gulls after Briana Lee converted an old-fashioned three-point play at the 10:28 mark to make it 10-10. But from there the Sea Gulls went on an 8-0 run and Hood went into the locker room trailing 28-24.

Hood closed to within one possession of tying it in the second half when a Prater layup cut the deficit to 38-36 with 12:30 left. Hood hung around as Salisbury was unable to extend its lead beyond five points for a span of nearly seven minutes. In fact, for a stretch of more than four minutes, both teams were held scoreless as the score remained 49-44 in favor of SU.

After KC Curran made 1-of-2 from the foul line, Wiley finished a layup off a feed from Prater to make it 50-46 with 1:30 left. With the Blazers right on their heels, the Sea Gulls came up with a clutch basket as Josie Hildebrand got a layup to go on SU's next possession and the Blazer comeback fell just short.

SU's Katie McGahagan and Anna Hackett both finished with 14 points while Hildebrand netted 13 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. The Sea Gulls blocked a total of 10 shots on the night but Hood bested the Sea Gulls on the boards, 46-43.

Hood hits the road for its next three games beginning with a road trip to CAC foe Wesley Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip.