SALEM, Mass. -- Britt Herring (W. Brookfield, Mass.) scored a game-high 18 points on 8-11 shooting while Bianca Langford (Worcester, Mass.) added 12 rebounds, eight points and five blocks to lead Worcester State to a 61-54 victory over the Salem State Vikings on Wednesday evening at Twohig Gymnasium. The Lancers improve to 9-12 and 5-3 in the MASCAC while Salem State slides to 8-13 and 0-8 in conference.
In a tightly contested first half in which neither team led by more than five points, Worcester State took an early 12-8 lead on a layup by Catherine Sweeney (Lowell, Mass.). Maintaining their advantage into the second period, Herring gave the Lancers an 18-13 lead with 8:28 remaining. However, Kia Fernandes (Wareham, Mass.), who had nine first half points, drew Salem State to within two after a bucket and subsequent free throw. Another layup by Herring put Worcester State up by three, before the Vikings took their first lead following back-to-back buckets by Norma Waggett (Saugus, Mass.) and Fernandes with 2:32 remaining before halftime. Sweeney tied the game at 24-24 before both teams entered halftime with the score deadlocked at 26 apiece. Herring led the Lancers with nine points on 4-5 shooting from the field. The Vikings went just 1-of-8 (12.5%) from three-point range in the first half.
A Kate Lipka (Peabody, Mass.) three-pointer opened the second half as Salem State built a four-point advantage 33-29 with 6:01 remaining in the third quarter. However, Worcester State finished on a 15-4 run to take a 44-37 lead into the fourth. Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) drained two trey's and Kaitlyn Berkel (Waterford, Conn.) added a basket as the Lancers scored eight straight points over the final two minutes as they took control of the game.
Worcester State built a 14-point advantage after a Herring layup to put the game seemingly out of reach. Trailing 55-44, Salem State went on 1 10-2 tear to draw within a possession, 57-54 with 1:08 left. Waggett led the charge with five of the points, including her first three pointer of the night. The Lancers did not break as they held the Vikings scoreless in the final minute to pull away with a 61-54 victory.
Kate Surprenant (Pelham, N.H.) added 11 points for Worcester State, which shot 11-26 (42.3%) from the field. Waggett ended the night with 16 points and eight boards while Fernandes chipped in with 13 points and five boards. The Vikings ended the game going 3-16 (18.8%) from three-point range.
Salem State goes to MCLA for a MASCAC game this Saturday beginning at 3:00 PM while Worcester State travels to Fitchburg State next Tuesday, February 8 for a 7:30 start.
Release Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information