Women's Basketball Falls To Vikings In Conference Bout

Harlow finishes with team-leading 14 points for Green & Gold

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Women's Basketball team suffered a tough 108-64 setback to the Vikings of Salem State this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Twohig Gymnasium.

 The Basic

Score: Fitchburg State 64, Salem State 108

Records: Fitchburg State (3-21,  0-9 MASCAC) I Salem State (13-11, 6-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Fitchburg State took a 5-2 advantage to open the contest on a pair of buckets from senior Rylie Harlow (Hanson, MA) before Salem State grabbed the lead back (11-8) as senior Abuk Teng (Manchester, NH) hit a three-ball.

The Vikings pushed the margin to 26-12 with sophomore Kylie Schrock (Rockport, MA) registering a layup, but the Falcons answered back (29-18) when freshman Malaica Guillaume (Everett, MA) and senior Stephanie Hart (Shirley, MA) netted buckets.

2nd quarter

The hosts upped the lead to 38-18 with junior Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, MA) notching a layup, but the Green and Gold trimmed the deficit to 38-29 as Harlow connected on a basket.

The Falcons cut the lead to 52-29 on a Steph Hart layup before the Vikings grabbed a 53-29 edge going into the break with Schrock hitting a free-throw.

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State trimmed the lead to 59-37 when junior Aliza Som (Lowell, MA) and classmate Kaelynn Tanner (Lowell, MA) netted layups, but Salem State extended the margin to 67-40 on a Teng jumper.

The Falcons cut the lead to 75-47 as junior Alexis DeSimone (Ashburnham, MA) and Harlow registered baskets before the Vikings upped the advantage to 78-47 on a layup by senior Kylie Gates (Pembroke, MA).

4th quarter

The Falcons reduced the deficit to 87-51 Guillaume and senior Kathryn Hart (Shirley, MA) registered buckets, but the visitors answered back with Gates burying a three-pointer for the 90-51 edge.

The Green and Gold responded when sophomore Madison Dawkins (Haverhill, MA) netted a layup to make the score 93-56 before the Vikings secured the victory as junior Jaylen Nieves (Chicopee, MA) knocked down a three-pointer, resulting in the 108-64 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Harlow with a team-best 14 points, one rebound, two assists and one steal
• S. Hart added a double-double of 12 points and 12 caroms as well as one assist
• For the Vikings, Gates finished with a game-leading 31 points, two boards, nine assists and one steal
• Teng chipped in with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists
• 74th meeting between the Falcons and Vikings on the basketball court with Fitchburg State 13-71 all-time when taking on Salem State
• Fitchburg State shot 22-for-74 (29.7%) from the field and (3-of-23) 13.0% from three-point range
• Salem State went 42-of-80 (52.5%) overall and (12-for-28) 42.9% for beyond the arc
• Vikings finished with a 52-42 margin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Salem State to take on the Vikings in MASCAC action, starting at 5:00PM.

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