Women's Basketball Upended By Vikings In Conference Action

Harlow finishes with game-best 18 points for Green & Gold

Fitchburg, MA – The Fitchburg State women's basketball team dropped a 77-60 decision to the Vikings of Salem State this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 60, Salem State 77

Records: Fitchburg State (3-15, 0- MASCAC) | Salem State (9-9, 3-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Fitchburg State grabbed an early 6-4 advantage on a pair of three-pointers from junior Kaelynn Tanner (Lowell, MA) before Salem State took a 17-6 lead as junior Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, MA) and senior Abuk Teng (Manchester, NH) hit buckets. The Falcons trimmed the deficit to 19-10 with seniors Rylie Harlow (Hansen, MA) and Caileen Hurley (Whitman, MA) registering baskets, but the Vikings upped the advantage to 21-14 with Goncalves hitting a layup.

2nd quarter

The visitors extended the lead to 30-14 when senior Kylie Gates (Pembroke, MA) registered a jumper, but the Green and Gold answered back with a free-throw from Harlow (30-15). Fitchburg State trimmed the lead to 34-26 as Harlow and Tanner connected on buckets before Salem State grabbed a 36-26 edge going into the break on a Goncalves jumper.

3rd quarter

Following the intermission, Salem State pushed the lead to 40-26 on a pair of buckets from Goncalves before Fitchburg State responded as seniors Kathryn Hart (Shirley, MA) and Stephanie Hart (Shirley, MA) notched layups. The Vikings upped the margin to 58-35 on a three-ball from junior Jaylen Nieves (Chicopee, MA), but the Falcons countered when Harlow and Steph Hart collected baskets to make the score 58-43.

4th quarter

The Green and Gold reduced the margin to 61-49 when K. Hart and Tanner buried three-pointers, but the visitors upped the lead to 63-49 on a Liz Zaiter (Peabody, MA) layup. Fitchburg State cut the lead to 70-54 with Harlow netting a layup before Salem State secured the victory on a bucket from sophomore Amayah McConney (Salem, MA), resulting in the 77-60 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Harlow led the way for the Falcons with a game-leading 18 points, nine rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block
• Tanner chipped in with 15 points, six caroms and one steal
• For the Vikings, Goncalves finished with a team-best 18 points, 17 boards, one assist, one steal and one block
• Teng added 16 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks
• 83rd meeting between Fitchburg State and Salem State the basketball court with the Falcons 13-70 all-time against the Vikings
• Fitchburg State shot 21-of-85 (24.7%) from the field and (5-of-30) 16.7% from three-point range
• Salem State finished 32-of-89 (36.0%) overall and (5-for-32) 16.6% for beyond the arc
• The Bears finished with a 59-35 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Framingham State to take on the Rams for a MASCAC matchup, starting at 7:30PM.

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