Salem State Holds Off Clark 70-64

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications 

SALEM, Mass.- Abuk Teng  (Manchester, N.H.) and Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, Mass.) combined for 35 points, giving Salem State a 70-64  victory over Clark University on Wednesday night at Twohig Gymnasium. The Vikings improved to 5-2, while the Cougars dropped to 5-2.  

The Vikings had impressive offensive performances by three players, who each recorded a double-double. Nicolette D'Itria (Revere, Mass.) contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Goncalves had an impressive 17 points and 15 rebounds. Teng scored 18 points and added 11 rebounds. For the Cougars Alaina Schatzabel (Kennebunk, Me.) also recorded a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.     

The game started with a quick layup from  Goncalves, who got her own rebound and completed the three-point play with a free throw. Clark then went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by Kailey Rios' (Hesperia, Calif.) three-pointer. The Vikings managed to recover, going on a 9-1 run of their own, with Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.)  scoring four points and D'Itria contributing three points. With 2:41 left in the period, the Vikings had a 12-8 lead. 

Heading into the second period, Salem State held a four-point lead, 18-14. The Vikings started the period strong, with D'Itria on the left side finding Teng who knoecked in a two pointer. As the period progressed, the Vikings extended their lead to eleven, with Jaylen Nieves (Chicopee, Mass.) and Goncalves doing most of teh damage. With the score at 31-18, the Cougars called a thirty-second timeout. The Vikings continued to dominate, with Gates and Goncalves scoring back-to-back two-pointers. The Vikings went to the locker room with a comfortable 13-point lead, 39-26.  

At the half, Gates and Teng led the team with 10 points each, with Gates also contributing four assists. D'Itria led the team in rebounds with eight. Rios led the Cougars with nine points, while Schatzabel grabbed six rebounds. 

The Vikings started the third period strong, going on a 7-2 run, with Teng scoring four of the seven points. D'Itria also contributed with a steal and a layup. The score was 46-28 when the Cougars started to show some life, going on an impressive 16-2 run midway through the period. However, the Vikings managed to score back-to-back two-pointers from D'Itria and Teng late in the period.  

Heading into the final period, the Vikings held a ten-point lead, 52-42. Clark attempted to come back, but Salem State, which went 21-of-25 (84.0%) from the line, hit 12-of-14 (85.7%) from the charity stripe in the final quarter to hold off the Cougars, who went 1-for-16 (6.3%) from three-point range. Salem State had a nine-point lead with 3:08 remaining in the period after Gates made both free throws as the Vikings walked away with a six-point victory.

The Salem State Vikings will travel to WPI on Sunday, December 3, with the game starting at 1:00 p.m.