Worcester, MA --- Salem State junior Rachael Carter (Merrimack, NH) highlighted four in double-figure scoring with a game-best 18 points as she helped lead the Vikings to a 63-49 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC women's basketball action this afternoon at Assumption's Laska Gym.
With the win the Vikings improve to 10-11 overall and 5-3 in the seven-team loop while the Lancers slip to 8-13 and even out to 4-4 in conference play.
Senior Lara Bruni (Gloucester, MA) also chipped in with 14 points for the visitors while classmate Ginny Fleming (Peabody, MA) nearly posted a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Rachel Ledbetter (Dracut, MA) turned in a great all-around game with 11 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals.
The Blue and Gold were paced by sophomore Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) who finished with nine points and nine caroms while junior Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) added eight points – two baskets coming by way of the three-point arc.
Second-year Natasha Gonzalez (Milford, MA) matched team-high honors with nine points in 10 minutes of action as classmate Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett) ended her night with a game-best six assists and five boards.
Earlier this afternoon, the WSU women's basketball team hosted their annual Alumni Day game and luncheon which was held at nearby Notre Dame Academy.
Worcester State opened with the 14-5 margin seven minutes into the contest and led 16-9 at the 9:50 mark.
Salem State though came back with a vengeance and closed out the frame with a 21-8 surge to open up a 30-22 contest at the intermission. Carter was instrumental for the visitors as she tallied 11 points in the run.
Carter started off the second period the same way she ended the first stanza with consecutive baskets for the 12 point game early on.
Frankian and Jennings helped the Lancers trim the deficit to eight three minutes into the half on field goals (34-26) and junior Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) had another lay-up to get within nine points (41-32) with 12:19 remaining, but the hole proved to be too large for the hosts to overcome.
After El-Qasem's conversion, the Vikings built up their margin with a 13-3 spurt to open up a 55-36 advantage with six minutes remaining in the contest.
The Lancers never threatened as the visitors peaked at 23 points with 4:02 left in the game (61-38).
Salem State finished shooting 38 percent from the floor for the game (24-for-63), which included a 42 percent line in the second stanza (13-for-31). SSU was also 14-for-20 from the charity stripe (70 percent).
Worcester State fired a modest 35 percent clip from the field (20-for-57), but only drained three of their 16 bids from beyond the arc. WSU only connected on half of their bids from the free throw line (6-for-12).
The Vikings held margins in rebounds (41-37), offensive boards (14-11), points in the paint (36-18), points off of turnovers (15-6) and second chance baskets (11-9).
The hosts led in bench scoring (21-4) and dished out 14 assists for their 20 made field goals.
Both teams continue their MASCAC slates on Tuesday evening on the road in 5:30 tip-offs. Worcester State heads south to Bridgewater State as Salem State travels west to take on Westfield State.
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