Falcons Drop MASCAC Bout To Vikings

Salem, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Women's Basketball team dropped a 79-58 decision to the Vikings of Salem State University this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Twohig Gymnasium.

 The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 58, Salem State 79

Records: Fitchburg State (2-18, 1-8 MASCAC) I Salem State 5-16, 3-7 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Fitchburg State took a 5-4 edge to open the contest on a layup from senior Jadelen Harold (Nantucket, Mass.) and a three ball by classmate Lovashia Rosario (Worcester, Mass.) before Salem State regained the lead (8-5) on a Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) jumper.

The Falcons knotted the score at 8-8 as freshman Pena Niles (Billerica, Mass.) drained a three-ball, but the Vikings went on a 7-2 run to take a 15-11 edge after a three pointer from senior Julia Mattera (Arlington, Mass.). The Green and Gold trimmed the deficit to 17-16 with newcomer Morgan Genness (Belgrade, Maine) knocking down a three-pointer before the hosts closed out the quarter with Katie Wallace (Peabody, Mass.) bucket for the 22-16 lead.

2nd quarter

Salem State upped its margin (26-16) on a Zaiter layup before Fitchburg State reduced the lead to 33-27 as Harold and freshman Ephemian Bailey (Maple Grove, Minn.) hit buckets. The Vikings would take a 40-31 advantage into the break however when sophomore Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.).

3rd quarter

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State cut the lead to 42-35 on back-to-back buckets from Harold, but Salem State responded with a 6-0 stretch, capped by a Gates layup for the 48-35 margin.

Trailing 51-37, the Green and Gold answered with a Harold jumper and a basket from freshman Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) going into the final quarter of play.

 4th quarter

The Falcons started the fourth quarter with a Bailey bucket and another three-ball by Genness (59-46) before Zaiter connected on a layup to make the score 61-46. Fitchburg State notched another three-pointer, this time freshman Allison Prentis (Mansfield, Mass.) buried one from beyond the arc off a feed from classmate Delaney Brown (Billerica, Mass.), but Salem State secured the victory on an Abuk Teng (Manchester, N.H.) layup, resulting in the  79-58 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Harold with a team-best 18 points, 12 rebounds, one assist and one steal
• Genness and Harlow combined for 12 points, six caroms, seven assists and two steals
• For the Vikings, senior Irianis Delgado (Lynn, Mass.) netted a game-leading 20 points, 12 boards and two assists
• Zaiter chipped in with 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one block
• 80th meeting between the two teams on the basketball court with the Falcons 14-66 all-time when taking on the Vikings
• Fitchburg State shot 24-for-77 (31.2%) from the field and (8-of-28) 28.6% from downtown
• Salem State went 32-of-82 (39.0%) overall and (5-for-16) 31.3% for beyond the arc
• Vikings held a 58-48 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they hosts the Lancers of Worcester State for a MASCAC tilt, starting at 12:00 PM.