Worcester State 67, Salem State 62
Box Score
Salem, MA --- Sophomore Alexis George
(Worcester, MA) notched a game-high 20 points while junior
Reilly O’Keefe (Warren, MA) tallied 18
points as Worcester State defeated Salem State 67-62, in MASCAC
action this evening at Salem’s O’Keefe Center. The win
was their first for the Lancers in 16 years in Salem.
With the win, the Lancers (9-16, 5-7 MASCAC) earn the #4 seed in
next week’s MASCAC conference tournament and will host
fifth-seeded MCLA on Tuesday at 7 PM in the quarterfinals. The
winner of Tuesday’s game will travel to top-seeded Westfield
State who will host the semifinals next Friday at 5:30 and
championship will be at Westfield State on Saturday at 1
o'clock.
WSC, winners of four out of their last five, last defeated Salem
State at Salem on February 1, 1993. Salem State dips to 4-8 overall
and 9-16 in the MASCAC and will travel to Bridgewater State for a 7
PM game on Tuesday in the other opening round game.
The Lady Vikings opened a 20-10 lead over the games first
9½ minutes of play before the Lancers closed the gap to
20-19 with a quick 9-0 run sparked by a three-pointer by sophomore
Kathleen Foley (Hudson, NH). A trey by freshman Amy
Barry (Manchester, NH) gave the visitors a four point
cushion at 7:43, but Worcester State made it a one point game at
6:21 on a pair of free throws by O’Keefe.
Salem State then went on a 13-3 spurt to take a 37-27 lead with
3:13 left before WSC trimmed the lead to four points (39-35) with
just over a minute left. SSC, however, would end the period with
back-to-back jumpers by Barry and junior Jakoya
Wilkins (Dorchester, MA) to lead 43-35 at the
intermission.
The Lady Vikings came out of the locker room and extended the
advantage to 45-35 at 19:18, but WSC then clawed the lead back to
six on four straight points at the charity stripe from freshman
Kaleigh Charette (Fairhaven, MA) and
O’Keefe. Salem State would take control with seven unanswered
points over the next five minutes to open their largest lead at
53-39 at 12:39.
From that point forward the Lancers went on a 10-2 run over the
next six minutes and made it a four point contest (56-52) at 5:07
on a field-goal by George. Charette tied the game at 3:30 and then
George recorded four straight points to give Worcester State a four
point cushion and the lead for good at 2:07.
Salem State threatened just once making it a one possession game
when junior Katie Biolonko (Chicopee, MA) stole an
inbounds pass and made a lay-up with 15 seconds left (63-60), but
the Lancers closed the contest with a pair of free throws by George
to secure the victory.
Charette paced Worcester State with 10 second-half points (16
total) while junior Brianne Flanders (Southampton,
MA) corralled a game-best 11 rebounds. Senior Erin
McCullough (Harvard, MA) also chipped in with eight points
and four assists.
SSC junior Danielle Jenkins (Marlborough, MA)
scored 16 of her 19 points in the first half while she finished
with nine boards. Wilkins added seven points with 10 caroms and
five assists while Bielonko registered 11 points with seven
rebounds.
After shooting 49% from the floor in the first half the Lancers
played outstanding defense as they held the Lady Vikings to just 19
points in the second stanza. Salem was just five for 28 from the
field and they did not make a single one of their six attempts from
downtown.
WSC also scored 12 second chance points with 12 offensive rebounds
and they scored 11 points off 11 SSC miscues in the second
period.