As if things weren’t tough enough for the Salisbury girls’ basketball team, the Falcons experienced a few more challenges last week.

Already without Olivia Hoeing, who is a two-year starter and has been sidelined all season, the injury bug bit Salisbury even more. Two other starters, guards Quinn Wittman and Melena Koutch, were in walking boots and missed Sunday’s game against Blue Mountain.

Blue Mountain took advantage of Salisbury’s inexperience and jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, defeating the Falcons 55-13.

“Obviously the biggest obstacle against Blue Mountain was the size difference and the lack of varsity experience,” Salisbury head coach Dan Reichenbach said. “I was pleased that the girls who could play, played hard. They hustled on defense, and more importantly, they kept playing even though they knew they were outmatched. The rest of this year is going to be about growth.”

Lindsay Kutz and Leah Pishock each scored five points for the Eagles in the opening frame where the Falcons failed to get on the scoreboard. Kutz had 13 points for Blue Mountain.

While down early, the Falcons didn’t look defeated coming out in the second quarter. Six different Falcons scored points in the second quarter to put up 10 on the scoreboard.

Blue Mountain’s offense didn’t take a step back either. Leading 29-10 at halftime, Kaylee Yeager scored eight of her 13 points in the third to push the Eagles’ lead to 47-13.

Salisbury was also held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

“Hopefully we will keep improving offensively and start to figure out floor spacing,” Reichenbach said. “We have to see the weak spots in defenses and just figure out how to score.”

Wittman figures to be held out for some time. Koutch was injured against Palmerton a day earlier and is out indefinitely.

There is still no timetable for when or if Hoeing will return this season. And senior Erica Holben is also playing through a wrist injury.

“I will hold [Wittman] out until the trainers are confident she is completely healed,” Reichenbach said. “Although this is a setback, it gives some of the other sophomores who play mostly JV an opportunity to gain invaluable experience playing varsity.”

Madison Bettucio led the Falcons with five points again the Eagles.

Salisbury returns to the court on Thursday against Pocono Mountain West in the first game of its holiday tournament. Tipoff is set for 2:45 p.m.