Women's Basketball Opens New Year With 70-65 Win Over Salem

Winston-Salem, NC --- Junior Bianca Langford (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) finished with a season-best 25 points to go along with 16 rebounds and three blocks to help propel Worcester State to a 70-65 victory over Salem College in non-conference women's basketball action this afternoon.

The Lancers (7-3) run their streak to four games as today's contest capped off a week-long trip to North Carolina. The Sprits fall to 1-7 with the setback for the first Division III game of 2015.

Senior Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett) netted 11 points while classmates Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) and Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA/Wachusett) registered 10 points apiece.

Freshman Nani Perez (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) had a solid all-around game with four points, six boards and seven assists.

For Salem, sophomore Alexihonna Bush (Fayetteville, NC) and senior Zykeya Henderson (Inman, SC) both tallied 16 points each. Senior Kristal Lollis (Oberlin, LA) flirted with a triple double-finishing with nine points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Bush and Lollis both swiped four balls and Henderson corralled seven rebounds in the effort for the Spirit.

It was a seesaw opening half which saw each side make two strong runs.

After the Lancers staked the early 10-3 advantage, the hosts came right back and equalized the score 14-14 with 11:30 on the clock.

Worcester State responded with an 11-4 run and on the back of a traditional three-point play by Jennings, opened up a 25-18 advantage five minutes later.  

As the visitors held the 27-21 edge at the 8:02 mark, Salem closed out the frame by outscoring their opponents 13-5 to take over the 34-32 contest heading into the locker room. Junior Shaniqua Collins (Hoffman, NC) and Henderson sparked the effort for the Spirit with trifectas.

Ignited by a trey by Frankian and four points from El-Qasem, the Lancers started off the second period going up 43-38 just 4 ½ minutes into the frame.

Freshman MiKayla Seivers (Mount Airy, NC) did help the hosts respond with a triple to cut into the lead, however, the Lancers opened up the game with a 12-5 outburst to take over the 54-46 margin with 10:49 remaining in regulation.

The Spirit didn't go away quietly taking advantage of several missed shots and turnovers by the visitors. Salem got back into the game with a similar 11-2 skein and actually took over the 57-56 edge with 5:19 left to play.

Worcester State though responded in a big way by closing things out with a 14-5 run en-route taking over the 70-62 lead with 48 ticks showing on the clock. Langford and Jennings combined for nine points in the outburst for the Lancers.

Lollis canned a three-pointer to help her team threaten in the waning moments, but it wasn't enough as the Lancers sealed up their first win of the new year.

WSU shot 42 percent for the contest (28-for-67), but did not take advantage at the free throw line (8-for-13 – 62 percent). The visitors also held leads in rebounds (45-38), offensive boards (12-9), baskets in the paint (44-39) and points off of turnovers (16-14).

The hosts connected for a modest 39 percent from the floor (27-for-69) and finished with the 11-7 edge in second chance points.

Worcester State will play again this Tuesday versus Johnson & Wales in a 7 PM matchup at WPI while Salem entertains Bridgewater (VA) at 3 o'clock on Sunday.