Vikings Face Setback on Road

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications  

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-    Kelsey Yelle (South Easton, Mass.) and Chloe Rayko (Convey, RI) combined for 32 points to give Framingham State the 79-54 Massachusetts State Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Salem State on Wednesday night. The Rams' victory increased their record to 13-2 overall, while dropping the Vikings to 6-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

Yelle led the Rams with an impressive 21 points (8-12FG) and eight rebounds while Gwendolyn Carpenter (Ashley Falls, Mass.)  and Katherine Haselton (Greenfield, Mass.) each dished out five helpers on the night.

For Salem State, Nicolette D'Itria (Revere, Mass.) led the Vikings with 20 points, nine rebounds, and four steals and Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) contributed with four assists.  

Both sides traded baskets to start the game before the Rams went on an 8-3 run before Abuk Teng (Manchester, N.H.) stopped the bleeding and sparked her team to cut their deficit to three (12-9) with just under five minutes to play in the opening stanza. But the Rams would close out the quarter on a 12-5 run to take the 22-13 advantage to head into the second quarter.

The second period was all Rams as they outscored the Vikings 23 to 9, with 10 of those points coming from Yelle. This dominant quarter would put Salem State down by a tally of 23 (45-22) to head into the break.

At halftime Teng led the Vikings with 11 points, while D'Itria had six rebounds. 

The Rams picked up where they left off to start the third as a three-point play from Carpenter ignited her team to a 12-1 run. The run was finally ended when D'Iria scored on a layup at the 4:10 mark in the third period. With the score standing at 64-48, Salem State found themselves down by 28 points heading into the final 10 minutes of play.

Jenna Tavanesse (Wilmington, Mass.) started the scoring in the fourth with a deep ball before Salem State answered by scoring on the next two possessions, as Haley Phillips (Haverhill, Mass) and Jarielis Perez (Lynn, Mass.) both found the bottom of the basket. As the period progressed, Teng and D'Itria managed to score back-to-back three-pointers to spark a 10-0 run, but despite the late surge by Salem State, Framingham held on for the 79-54 victory. 

Salem State will look to bounce back this Saturday, January 13 when they travel to MCLA to take on the Trailblazers for a MASCAC matchup. Tipoff is at noon.