Vikings Rout Cougars 78-30

SALEM, Mass. – Courtney Paschal (Waltham, Mass.) scored 22 points and added six rebounds as Salem State ended a three-game losing skid with a resounding 78-30 victory over Medgar Evers on Sunday. It was the Vikings' largest margin of victory since defeating Fitchburg State 61-30 in 2016. Newcomer Nicole Freddo (Marblehead, Mass.) added 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals while Alyssa Genness (Belgrade, Maine) chipped in with 11 points as Salem State's bench outscored the Cougars 41-0.

The Vikings (3-5) opened up a 28-point first half lead behind 13 points from Paschal and 11 from Genness.  Leading 8-5, the Vikings' went up 13-5 after a made basket by Juila Mattera (Arlington, Mass.). Cyndi White (Brooklyn, N.Y.) pulled Medar Evers (1-6) to within four, 15-11 with back to back-to-back baskets to end the first.

Salem State's offense exploded in the second, outscoring the Cougars 27-3 while holding Medgar Evers to just one field goal (1-14).  A White layup made the score 20-13 before the Vikings held the Cougars to a single free throw over the final 8:19. Genness had eight points in the quarter, including five straight as Salem State went up 33-14. Liz Zaiter's (Peabody, Mass.) jumper gave the Vikings its largest lead 42-14 with 27 seconds left before halftime. The Vikings scored 18 points off 17 Cougar turnovers while the bench outscored Medgar Evers 22-0. 

The Vikings led 58-24 after the third as Salem State limited Medgar Evers to just 4-18 (22.2%) from the field as the Cougars continued to struggle from the floor. Paschal added to her game-high total as she ended the quarter with 18 points. 

Salem State added to their lead with 20 fourth quarter points. Freddo scored seven points in the quarter as the Cougars managed just six points in the fourth. Anaily Lorenzo (Brockton, Mass.) capped the scoring with a layup, giving Salem State its largest lead of 48 points as the Vikings cemented a 78-30 win.  

Salem State shot 31-85 (36.5%) from the field and forced a season-high 38 turnovers with 20 steals, the most by a Vikings' team since 2016.  Hannah Cravedi (Templeton, Mass.) had a game-high six assists.  

White paced Medgar Evers with 17 points and seven rebounds while Onella Ireland (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 10 rebounds for the Cougars, who went just 12-54 (22.2%) from the floor, including 1-18 (5.6%) from three-point range.