Late Comeback Bid By Women's Basketball Falls Short Against Salem State

Salem, MA --- Salem State senior Rachel Carter (Merrimack, NH) registered a game-best 19 points with seven rebounds, seven assists and seven steals to help propel the Vikings to a 54-51 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC women's basketball action at the Twohig Gymnasium.

In the victory, SSU improves to 4-16 and 2-6 in league action while the Lancers fall to 13-8 and even out to 4-4 against conference opponents.

Trailing 52-42 with 3:33 remaining in regulation, Worcester State used a 9-0 run to get within one point of the lead less than two minutes later.

Freshman Brianna Hackett (Hollis, NH) sparked the rally with a triple, senior Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) hit three of four free throw attempts and junior Bianca Langford (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) notched a lay-up to help lead the charge.

Following a missed jumper by the Vikings at the 1:18 mark by freshman Olivia Summit (Peabody, MA), the Blue and Gold had the momentum dribbling up the floor on their next possession. But the Lancers failed to convert the go-ahead basket on two unsuccessful field goal attempts and a lane violation.

After a WSU foul on the turnover put sophomore Melissa Saad (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) at the line, she calmly drilled a pair of free throws with 44 ticks left to put the hosts up 54-51.

The Lancers tried to respond with a three-point shot to tie, however, Hackett's three-point bid from the near side corner was just off the mark.

With 4:55 left in the opening frame, Frankian hit a trey to help Worcester State narrow an eight-point gap to 21-16, but the Vikings took control of the contest and outscored the visitors 10-3 to close out the period with the 31-19 advantage at the break.

Salem State did maintain a double-digit margin for much of the second period despite numerous attempts by WSU to slice into the deficit.

The hosts led by 14 points just after the six minute mark before the Blue and Gold used a 7-0 spurt over a span to make the score 49-42.

Carter hit the front-end of a bonus try and freshman Savanah Spinney (Everett, MA) banked in a jumper at the top of the paint to help put the Vikings up 52-42 and 3:33 left to play.

Saad ended the game with 14 points, eight boards and four swipes to help pace the hosts.

Frankian had a team-high 13 points and she corralled six rebounds while freshman Nani Perez (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) did a little bit of everything with nine points, eight caroms and five helpers.

Langford added her 13th double-double of the campaign in 21 games, finishing with 10 points, 12 boards and four blocks as senior Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty) grabbed 10 rebounds. Hackett chipped in with nine points off the bench on a trio of three-pointers.

The key statistic of the contest came down to turnovers. The Vikings used 15 steals to force 22 Lancer miscues en-route to netting nearly half of their total points (25-11).

WSU squandered the opportunity of taking advantage of Salem State's 30 percent effort from the floor in the second period (8-for-27) and 50 percent clip at the free throw line (6-for-12).

The Lancers offense also struggled as the squad shot 33 percent overall (16-for-49), 36 percent from downtown (6-for-17) and the visitors missed nine free-bees (13-for-22 – 60 percent).

The visitors did lead in rebounding (44-39) and bench scoring was even (15-15).

Both squads will play again on Tuesday evening. Worcester State hosts Bridgewater State at Assumption in a 6 PM matchup at home while Salem State entertains Westfield State at 5:30.