Worcester, MA- The #5 seed Worcester State Women's Basketball team (5-20, 4-8)  returned to action this evening when they journeyed to Salem State to take on the #4 seeded Vikings (12-13, 5-7) in the first round of the MASCAC playoffs. The Lancers most recently took on Salem on Saturday February 10th, where they were dealt a tough 82-73 loss that split the regular season 1-1 between the two programs.

Final:

Worcester State: 80

Salem State: 84

How it Happened:

In the opening quarter of action the scoring would start quick for both teams as the Viking's Ernidia Goncalves would open the scoring with jumper only to be followed up by a senior Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, MA) lay in off the set up of fellow senior Nyah Thomas (Attleboro, MA). Those early baskets would set the tone for the quarter as both teams would trade points and baskets back and forth. About halfway through the quarter, the Vikings would go on a slight run of 7-2 to jump out to a six point lead. A leaping three from the Vikings would see the score push out to 18-9, but another Thomas bucket would cut into the action. Two first year Mia Haynes (Worcester, MA) at the close of the quarter would close the gap to just five points before a buzzer beater three from Kylie Gates would have the Vikings sitting with a 25-17 lead. 

Worcester was quick to work the deficit down off layups from Haynes, first year Alana Smith (Chicopee, MA) and Hurynowicz. An and one free throw from Hurynowicz would close the score to just three points, where first year Lena Waldron (Quincy, MA) with a lay up and jumper would pull Worcester within one. The Vikings would again take a mid quarter run pushing their lead to 11. A Smith layup with just over a minute before the half, would help Worcester cut the lead into single digits and their defense would hold the 42-33 score into the half time break. 

Waldron and Hurynowicz would end the half with nine points each, while Smith was a defensive powerhouse, grabbing 11 rebounds in the 20 minutes of action. 

After a halftime break the Lancers defense would hit another level as their offense would continue their dedicated work to reclaiming the lead. Waldron would grab an early basket and with five minutes into the action Worcester had worked the Vikings lead down to seven points. Another mid quarter surge would give the Vikings a short-lived double digit lead before the Lancers clicked on each side of the court to bring the score to within three on a sophomore Cameron Watkins (Dracut, MA) layup. Salem would again attempt a small surge, but layups from Thomas and Haynes; along with a buzzer beater jumper of their own from Hurynowicz as a result of the crisp defensive pressure of Worcester would see that score settle at 53-55 to start the fourth.

Salem State would again attempt to reclaim their possession of the game, opening the fourth quarter with four straight points. Worcester would not sit back and let this game get away from them though, as Smith, Hurynowicz and Watkins would each add two points to tie the game up at 59-59. Over the next two minutes, the Lancers took their first lead of the game off a Hurynowicz free throw, who would step into her own scoring run to see the Lancers push the lead to three. Salem and Worcester would trade baskets and the lead for the remainder of the quarter with the final 30 seconds finding both teams tied at 70-70. Another Hurynowicz trip to the line would have the lead return to Worcester State and a timeout called by the Vikings. A free throw battle would commence as the Vikings were sent to the line bringing the score to 71-71. Missed baskets from each team would see the quarter end in a tie and game move into five minute overtime quarter to determine the winner of this tightly matched quarterfinal action. 

The extra time would not slow down the Lancers as they jumped out to an early lead off a Hurynowicz layup that was followed up, after an answering basket by the Vikings, with a Waldron lay up and an one for the three point play. Salem would work to regain the lead which would see the next three minutes of action a game of lead swaps would eventually put the game back onto the success at the free throw line with Vikings hitting four shots in the final minute to seal the 84-80 victory for the Vikings.

Worcester State's Hurynowicz would end the game with 27 points and nine rebounds while Waldron would claim the double-double in the game with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Smith would claim the top rebounder of the game with 18 on the night.

Worcester State wraps up their season at 5-21 having claimed the fifth seed in the conference.