Sixth Seeded Falcons Fall To Third Seeded Vikings In Quarterfinal Round Action

Harlow finishes with game-leading 22 points for Green & Gold

Fitchburg, Mass. – The sixth seeded Falcons of Fitchburg State dropped a 82-63 decision to the third seeded Vikings of Salem State this evening in quarterfinal round action of the 2024-25 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this evening from the Twohig Gymnasium.

 The Basic

Score: Fitchburg State 63, Salem State 82

Records: Fitchburg State (3-23, 0-10 MASCAC) I Salem State (14-12, 6-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Salem State jumped out to a 9-0 advantage as senior Kylie Gates (Pembroke, MA) buried a three-pointer before Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 11-5 with senior Rylie Harlow (Hansen, MA) connected on a layup.

The Vikings pushed the lead to 15-10 when sophomore Kylie Shrock (Rockport, MA) registered a layup, but the Falcons answered back as senior Stephanie Hart (Shirley, MA) netted a bucket to make the score 15-12.

2nd quarter

The hosts extended the margin to 21-13 with senior Abuk Teng (Manchester, NH) notching a basket, but the Green and Gold trimmed the lead to 21-16 when Harlow knocked down a three-ball.

The Falcons cut the lead to 35-24 when senior Kathryn Hart (Shirley, MA) and junior Kaelynn Tanner (Lowell, MA) connected on baskets before the Vikings took a 37-23 edge into the break as Gates netted a layup.

Following the intermission, Salem State pushed the lead to 48-30 as junior Jaylen Nieves (Chicopee, MA) hit a three-pointer before Fitchburg State countered when senior Morgan Genness (Belgrade. ME) converted an and one (48-33).

The Vikings extended the lead to 55-33 when junior Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, MA) notched a layup, but the Falcons answered back with freshman Malaica Guillaume (Everett, MA), senior Stephanie Hart (Shirley, MA) and junior Alexis DeSimone (Ashburnham, MA) connecting on buckets to make the score 55-40.

4th quarter

Fitchburg State trimmed the deficit to 62-47 with Harlow hitting another three-pointer and a Tanner layup, but Salem State upped the margin to 65-47 as freshman Sunali Carter (Brockton, MA) hit a layup.

The Falcons cut the lead to 67-52 when Guillaume registered a layup before the Vikings secured the victory as graduate student Liz Zaitor (Peabody, MA) hit a bucket, resulting in the 82-63 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Harlow with a game-best 22 points, one rebound, one assist and one steal
• Steph Hart added 13 points, 13 caroms, three assists and one steal
• For the Vikings, Goncalves finished with a team-leading 18 points, 17 boards, three assists, one steal and two blocks
• Gates chipped in with 14 points, four rebounds, six assists, five steals and one block
• 85th meeting between the Falcons and Vikings on the basketball court with Fitchburg State 13-72 all-time when taking on Salem State
• Fitchburg State shot 22-for-68 (32.4%) from the field and (5-of-21) 23.8% from three-point range
• Salem State went 33-of-80 (41.3%) overall and (9-for-20) 45.0% for beyond the arc
• Vikings finished with a 55-41 margin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons concluded their 2024-25 season this evening.

STAY CONNECTED:

- For the latest on Fitchburg State University Athletics, follow the Falcons via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.