Worcester State Falls Short at Salem State, 50-43

SALEM, Mass.  –  Kia Fernandes (Wareham, Mass.) recorded a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds and added eight blocks while Kaitlyn Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) added 17 points, eight boards, and six steals as Salem State (4-10, 1-1) snapped an eight-game losing streak in beating Worcester State 50-43 on Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymnasium. The Lancers slip to 4-9 on the season and 1-1 in the MASCAC.

Bryan scored her team's first seven points as Salem State raced out to a 7-2 lead. A jumper by Kate Surprenant (Pelham, N.H.) brought Worcester State to within two at 7-5. However, the Vikings responded with an 8-2 run to push the lead to 15-7. A three-pointer by Bryan pushed the lead to 10 points with 6:22 remaining in the second quarter as Worcester State managed just five points over the final six and a half minutes. Salem State forced seven turnovers during that stretch to take a 28-15 lead into halftime. Bryan led all scorers with 10 points while Fernandes added seven. Worcester State turned the ball over 19 times in the first half.    

The Vikings opened up a 16-point lead in the third, 34-18 as Fernandes dominated in the post, blocking six Worcester State shots in the period. A steal and three-point play by Bryan pushed the lead to 18 with 3:00 remaining in the third as turnovers continued to plague the Lancers, who committed 31 for the game.

Trailing 39-27 to begin the fourth, Worcester State mounted a comeback, going to the foul line eight times in the first five minutes; converting six into points. Samm Toli (Taunton, Mass.) closed the gap to 43-33 with 5:29 remaining for Worcester State with two from the line. Poor free thow shooting by the Vikings, who made just 13-24 for the game, gave the Lancers an opportunity late. Two free throws by Britt Herring (W. Brookfield, Mass.) cut the lead to just six, 44-38 with three minutes remaining. However, a basket and free throw by the Vikings Kate Lipka (Peabody, Mass.) quelled the comeback, but two turnovers and a miss turned into five straight points by Worcester State as Kaitlyn Berkel (Waterford, Conn.) knocked in a basket and Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) followed with a three. The Vikings held off the Lancers' charge as Katrina Joubert (Westborough, Mass.) hit two free throws to preserve the 50-43 Salem State win.  

Hackett finished with 14 points for the Lancers while Berkel added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds with three blocks. Worcester State shot just 66.7% (18-27) from the line and 22.9% (11-48) from the field.

 
Salem State travels to MCLA Wednesday for a 5:30 PM start. Worcester State hosts Keene State at WPI on Monday for their eighth annual "Math Madness" game at 12:00 PM.   

Release Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information