O’Keefe and George Vault Lancers Past Vikings In Regular Season Finale

Worcester State 67, Salem State 62

Box Score

Salem, MA --- Sophomore Alexis George (Worcester, MA) notched a game-high 20 points while junior Reilly O’Keefe (Warren, MA) tallied 18 points as Worcester State defeated Salem State 67-62, in MASCAC action this evening at Salem’s O’Keefe Center. The win was their first for the Lancers in 16 years in Salem.

With the win, the Lancers (9-16, 5-7 MASCAC) earn the #4 seed in next week’s MASCAC conference tournament and will host fifth-seeded MCLA on Tuesday at 7 PM in the quarterfinals. The winner of Tuesday’s game will travel to top-seeded Westfield State who will host the semifinals next Friday at 5:30 and championship will be at Westfield State on Saturday at 1 o'clock.

WSC, winners of four out of their last five, last defeated Salem State at Salem on February 1, 1993. Salem State dips to 4-8 overall and 9-16 in the MASCAC and will travel to Bridgewater State for a 7 PM game on Tuesday in the other opening round game.

The Lady Vikings opened a 20-10 lead over the games first 9½ minutes of play before the Lancers closed the gap to 20-19 with a quick 9-0 run sparked by a three-pointer by sophomore Kathleen Foley (Hudson, NH). A trey by freshman Amy Barry (Manchester, NH) gave the visitors a four point cushion at 7:43, but Worcester State made it a one point game at 6:21 on a pair of free throws by O’Keefe.

Salem State then went on a 13-3 spurt to take a 37-27 lead with 3:13 left before WSC trimmed the lead to four points (39-35) with just over a minute left. SSC, however, would end the period with back-to-back jumpers by Barry and junior Jakoya Wilkins (Dorchester, MA) to lead 43-35 at the intermission.

The Lady Vikings came out of the locker room and extended the advantage to 45-35 at 19:18, but WSC then clawed the lead back to six on four straight points at the charity stripe from freshman Kaleigh Charette (Fairhaven, MA) and O’Keefe. Salem State would take control with seven unanswered points over the next five minutes to open their largest lead at 53-39 at 12:39.

From that point forward the Lancers went on a 10-2 run over the next six minutes and made it a four point contest (56-52) at 5:07 on a field-goal by George. Charette tied the game at 3:30 and then George recorded four straight points to give Worcester State a four point cushion and the lead for good at 2:07.

Salem State threatened just once making it a one possession game when junior Katie Biolonko (Chicopee, MA) stole an inbounds pass and made a lay-up with 15 seconds left (63-60), but the Lancers closed the contest with a pair of free throws by George to secure the victory.

Charette paced Worcester State with 10 second-half points (16 total) while junior Brianne Flanders (Southampton, MA) corralled a game-best 11 rebounds. Senior Erin McCullough (Harvard, MA) also chipped in with eight points and four assists.

SSC junior Danielle Jenkins (Marlborough, MA) scored 16 of her 19 points in the first half while she finished with nine boards. Wilkins added seven points with 10 caroms and five assists while Bielonko registered 11 points with seven rebounds.

After shooting 49% from the floor in the first half the Lancers played outstanding defense as they held the Lady Vikings to just 19 points in the second stanza. Salem was just five for 28 from the field and they did not make a single one of their six attempts from downtown.

WSC also scored 12 second chance points with 12 offensive rebounds and they scored 11 points off 11 SSC miscues in the second period.