Vikings Top Falcons in MASCAC Match-up

Fitchburg, Mass.  – The Fitchburg State University women's basketball team fell to the Vikings of Salem State 80-61 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this evening at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

 The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 61, Salem State 80
Records: Fitchburg State (2-17, 1-7 MASCAC) |Salem State (4-16, 1-7 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1^st Quarter

Freshman Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) and classmate Morgan Genness (Belgrade, ME) knocked down deep three-pointers to even the score at 6-6. Salem countered with a jumper from Alyssa Genness (Belgrade, ME) to take a 9-6 lead. The Green and Gold forged ahead (11-9) on a fast-break layup from Harlow but the Vikings answered with four points from Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) to retake the lead (13-11). Freshman Allison Prentis (Mansfield, Mass.) connected as time expired to give the Falcons a 16-15 lead after one.

2^nd Quarter

Salem opened the second quarter with seven unanswered points capped by a jumper from Irianis Delgado (Lynn, Mass.). Trailing 24-21, freshman Pena Niles (Billerica, Mass.) made the steal and the layup to cut the deficit to 24-23 midway through the frame. Fitchburg State countered with a 7-0 run including back-to-back jumpers from senior Jadelen Harold (Nantucket, Mass.) to push the score to 30-28. Delgado would finish the frame with a jumper to give the Vikings the 32-30 lead at intermission.

3^rd Quarter

Harlow once again opened a quarter with a three-pointer to give the Falcons the lead (33-32).  Three-pointers from Genness and Julia Mattera (Arlington, Mass.) swelled the Vikings' lead to 48-37. The Falcons chipped away at the lead with baskets from Genness, Sariah Dyer (Raynham, Mass.), and a trey from Prentis, but trailed 57-46 after three.

4th quarter

The Falcons opened the fourth with solid defense and cut the lead to six points with a three-pointer from Harlow. The Vikings responded with four points from Zaitier to extend the advantage (61-51).  Harold had a layup for the Falcons but the visitors answered with a trey from Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) to make the score 68-57. Mattera would add three from the charity stripe, resulting in the 80-61.

 Inside the Numbers

• Harlow finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds while Harold contributed 16 points and 5 caroms for the Falcons
• For the Vikings Zaiter led the way with a game-high 25 points and 14 rebounds for the double-double, while Delgado added 15 points and 10 caroms.
• Salem State shot 30-for-71 (42.3%) from the field and (4-for-19) 21.1% from three-point range
• Fitchburg State finished 24-for-71 (33.8%) overall and (8-for-26) 30.8% for beyond the arc
• Salem held a 50-43 advantage on the boards

Up Next

There will be a re-match of both teams at Salem State on Wednesday, game time is slated for 5:00 PM.