Burns, Frankian Pace Women's Basketball To 74-62 Victory Over Salem State

Salem, MA --- Sophomore Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) poured in a game-best 26 points and finished with 11 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double as she helped propel Worcester State to a 74-62 win over Salem State this evening in MASCAC women's basketball action at the Twohig Gymnasium.

With the win the Lancers improve to 5-8 and 2-0 in conference play while the Vikings slip to 5-9 and 1-1 in the seven-team loop.

Frankian did her damage on an 11-for-20 effort from the floor which included a trio of buckets from long range.

Junior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) also chipped in with 17 points and eight boards for the visitors as classmate Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty) connected on three treys for nine points.

Sophomore Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett) and classmate Natasha Gonzalez (Milford, MA) combined for 11 assists to help the Blue and Gold finish with 22 dishes for 28 made field goals.

SSU junior Rachel Carter (Merrimack, NH) notched her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 boards while senior Lara Bruni (Gloucester, MA) had a team-high 16 points to go along with nine caroms.

Fourth-year Ginny Fleming (Peabody, MA) also pitched in with 15 points and eight caroms in the losing effort for the Vikings.

Salem State held their largest margin of the opening half with 12:24 left at 19-12 before WSU trimmed it to one point with a 7-1 run which was finished off with a trifecta by Frankian.

Carter and Bruni quickly responded by jacking a three pointer and converting a lay-up to help build the Viking lead back up to six with 7:50 remaining (25-19).

Worcester State, however, played some solid defense and closed out the frame with a 20-7 run for the 39-32 score at the half. Frankian and Burns were instrumental in the surge as they both help put up 18 points for the Lancers.

After Jennings drilled a three-pointer for the eight-point advantage early in the second period (46-38), Salem State used a 9-0 spurt Carter used a trifecta of her own to spark her squad as the hosts took the 47-46 edge over at the 14:27 mark.

That set the stage for junior Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) who drilled a trey on the next basket to give WSU the lead for good and she dialed in another one from downtown the Lancers build up a 54-49 cushion with 12:04 remaining in regulation.

Worcester State kept the Vikings at arm's length for much of the next four minutes and pulled away late to seal up the win.

With the 61-56 and two-possession game at the 8:51 mark, the Lancers utilized a 13-3 run for their largest margin at the 2:25 mark (74-59). Burns helped the Lancers take control with nine points in the skein.

For the game, the Lancers shot well from the field with a 43 percent effort (28-for-65) and they sank nine of their 21 bids from beyond the arc.

Despite the setback, Salem State actually held the 49-45 rebounding advantage in addition to leads in points in the key (36-20), points off miscues (17-13) and second-chance opportunities (15-11).

The Vikings, however, could not shrug off a poor shooting night from three point land (3-for-16 – 19 percent) and nine misses at the free throw line (59 percent – 13-for-22).

Worcester State will play again on Thursday in a non-conference battle against Johnson & Wales at 7 PM. Salem State hosts Westfield State in a MASCAC match-up at 1 o'clock on Saturday.