Thoroughbreds Pull Away Late, Defeat Vikings 55-51

WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. -- Kia Fernandes (Wareham, Mass.) scored 14 points and added nine rebounds, but a late surge by Skidmore propelled the Thoroughbreds to a 55-51 win over Salem State on the second day of the Williams College Invitational. The Vikings (0-4) held a 43-36 lead with 7:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Skidmore (1-3), used a 19-8 run to hold off the Vikings. With the game tied 49-49 with 3:21 left, Salem State was held to just one field goal as the Thoroughbreds held on for a four-pint victory.

The Vikings built a 13-10 lead after one, but were outscored 19-5 in the second quater to go into halftime trailing 29-18. Tyra Scott (Methuen, Mass.) sparked Salem State in the third with eight points off the bench as the Vikings cut the deficit to just one point, 34-33 at the end of the third quarter. Skidmore shot just 2-16 (12.5%) in the quarter and committed six turnovers.

A 10-2 run by the Vikings to open the fourth quarter gave Salem State a seven-point lead, but once again Salem State went cold from the floor while allowing Skidmore to shoot 53.8% (7-13) from the field in the final quarter.

Scott ended with 12 points, three rebounds and two steals while Gianna Moschella (Peabody, Mass.) added 12 points, eight rebounds and a pair of steals.

Salem State finished the day 19-60 (31.7%) fromt the field compared to Skidmore's 21-69 (30.4%) effort. The Thorougbreds outrebounded Salem State 53-43.

Sydney Tsutsui (Northridge, Calif.) and Jessica Centore (Milford, Conn.) led Skidmore in scoring with 13 and 11 points respectively. Haley English (Wilton, Conn.) had nine rebounds and eight assists for the Thoroughbreds while Taylor Ong (Allenstown, N.H.) also had nine rebounds.