Women's Basketball Uses Strong Second Half To Defeat Salem State, 63-48

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Worcester, MA --- Worcester State junior Bianca Langford (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) netted 11 points, 12 boards and three assists to help lead the Lancers over Salem State, 63-48, this evening in women's MASCAC basketball action at Laska Gymnasium.

The Blue and Gold recorded their eighth straight victory and nine out of their last ten to improve to 11-3 on the campaign and 2-0 in league play. Meanwhile, the Vikings fall to 2-10 (0-2 MASCAC) on the season.

Senior classmates Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) and Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty) each added 11 points in the triumph while freshman Brianna Hackett (Hollis, NH) scored nine points on a trio of three-pointers.

Freshman Nani Perez (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) was also a stat stuffer for the Blue and Gold finishing with seven points, eight rebounds, two steals, and a block.

Senior Rachael Carter (Merrimack, NH) led the charge for the Vikings scoring a game-high 14 points to go along with nine caroms, and five helpers in the defeat. Junior Rachel Ledbetter (Dracut, MA) pitched in with eight points and five rebounds for the Orange and Blue.

After back and forth action for the first ten minutes of the opening frame, the Lancers gradually started to take control of the contest.

Four different Lancers contributed to a 9-0 rally over a four minute span to help give WSU the 16-7 advantage, including Perez who capped off the run with a lay-up at the 9:06 mark.

Hackett pushed the Worcester State lead to double figures for the first time with 7:18 left in the frame when she knocked down her first triple of the evening to stake the Lancers to a 22-12 advantage.

The Blue and Gold led by as many as 12 before setting with the 33-23 margin at the intermission following a Ledbetter field goal with 33 ticks left.

The Blue and Gold scored the first six points of the second half to push the lead out to 39-23, just 3½ minutes into the frame highlighted by a pair of early lay-ups by Frankian and two points in the paint by senior Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett).

After a trey by Salem State sophomore Jess Kuzmickas (Windsor Locks, CT) cut the lead to 39-26 with 15:34 left, the Lancers used a decisive 12-2 run over the next five minutes to erase any thoughts of a comeback opening up a 51-28 margin near the midway point.

Four scorers underscored the rally as Jones ignited the run with a pair of jumpers before Perez put the finishing touches to help WSU build up their largest lead of the evening.

The Blue and Orange did not quit, however, as they chipped away at the deficit and made it a 13 point contest with 2:46 remaining with an 8-0 spurt led by Carter and Ledbetter which closed the gap to 57-44.

That was as close as the visitors got as the Lancers made their free throws with the clock stopped in the waning minutes to seal up the victory.

Worcester State finished the night shooting a solid 48 percent from the floor (24-for-50) and had 19 assists to go along with their 24 made field goals. They also knocked down six of their 16 attempts from three-point land to finish at a modest 38 percent clip.

Meanwhile, the visitors struggled all night from the field shooting a cool 27 percent (18-for-67). The three-point line did not help the cause as the Vikings only mustered three makes from deep on 25 attempts (12 percent).

The Lancers led the rebounding battle 42-38, and bench scoring, 25-13. Salem State did hold a narrow edge in points in the paint (26-20) and fast break points (12-7).

Both sides continue league play on the road this week as the Lancers travel to Keene State this Thursday for a 6 o'clock tip-off. Meanwhile, the Vikings visit Westfield State this Saturday for a 1:00 PM start time.

Story by Sports Information Intern - Michael Corso '12