Vikings' Comeback Falls Short

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications 

SALEM, Mass.- Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and Abby St. Martin (Putnam, Conn.) combined for 42 points to give Worcester State the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Salem State on Wednesday evening at Twohig Gymnasium.  The Lancers improve their record to 2-16 overall (1-3 in conference) while the Vikings slip to 7-9 overall and 1-3 in conference play.  

Hurynowicz exploded for a game-high 32 points (13-16 FT) and 16 rebounds while Lana Waldron (Quincy, Mass.) contributed five assists.

For the Vikings, Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) netted 27 points while dishing out eight helpers and Nicolette D'Itra (Revere, Mass.)  chipped in on the defensive end with five steals and nine rebounds in the effort. 

Early on both squads found themselves at an eight-point stalemate before Jaylen Nieves (Chicopee, Mass.) sunk a three-pointer from the left side to give the Vikings the slight edge with just under five minutes to play in the opening stanza. It was a back-and-forth game for the remainder of the first quarter, but the Lancers were able to close out the first with four unanswered points to take the 22-18 lead going into the second quarter. 

Two minutes into the second the Vikings reclaimed the lead after going on a 7-0 run, thanks to six points from Abuk Teng (Manchester, N.H.), making it a 27-24 game in in their favor.  The Lancers would regain the lead shortly after and lead by as many as four before the Vikings tied the game at 35 in the final seconds of the half to make it a 35-point stalemate to enter the break.

To start the third quarter, the Vikings connected on back-to-back buckets to give themselves the 39-35 edge, but the Lancers would go on a 7-0 run to put themselves ahead 42-39 with 5:43 to go in the quarter. The Vikings would chip away at the Lancers' lead throughout the third but a jumper from the visitors with 12 seconds to play in the quarter gave them the 56-49 advantage heading into the final ten minutes of action.     

The Lancers used the opening minute of the fourth to build on their lead, as they found themselves up by 13 (64-51) before Gates stopped the bleeding with a deep ball to make it a ten-point game. Despite the double-digit deficit the Vikings hung around and after back-to-back perfect trips to the free throw line, they found themselves within six (70-64) with 4:04 remaining in the game. Salem would manage to make it a three-point game (75-72) after a Teng layup but that would be as close as the Vikings would get as the Lancers would hold on for the 78-74 victory.  

Salem State will remain in Twohig Gymnasium as they welcome the Fitchburg State Falcons for a conference matchup this Saturday, January 20. Tip-off is scheduled at noon.