Vikings Roar Past Lions

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications 

SALEM, Mass.-   Abuk Teng (Manchester, N.H.)  and Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, Mass.)  combined for 52 points to give Salem State the 86-75 victory over Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) on Wednesday night in Twohig Gymnasium. The Vikings improved their overall record to 9-11 while the Lions dropped to 11-10 on the season.

Goncalves led the Vikings with 27 points and 21 rebounds, notching her 14^th double-double of the season. Nicolette D'Itria (Revere, Mass.) also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds while Teng rounded off the scoring with 25 points in the victory.

For the Lions, Eva Graf (Mather, Calif.) led her team with 15 rebounds, Alexandria Paquet (Santa Maria, Calif.) dished out seven assists, and Samantha Berrios (Providence, R.I.) contributed 12 points in the effort.

The opening stanza saw four ties and three lead changes throughout the quarter before a Teng triple notched her 13^th point of the quarter and put the Vikings ahead 23-22 to enter the second quarter.

Coach White talked about Teng's 13 first quarter points: "She had a really good game offensively today. She took care of the ball and found the open looks…"

The Vikings built on their lead with a 7-0 run to start the second, before a Lions' layup at the six-minute mark stopped the bleeding to make it a four-point game (30-26). The Vikings would lead by as many as nine before ENC closed out the half with four unanswered points to send the game into the break with Salem ahead, 40-35.

At the half, Teng led the Vikings in points with 13 and Goncalves had a team-high 11 rebounds, while Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) had six assists and four steals.

The Lions carried their momentum into the third, making it a one-point game before a Gates' triple would ignite her squad to a 12-3 run, giving them the 55-44 edge with 4:03 to play in the quarter. The Vikings would hold the Lions to just four points over the final three minutes of the quarter to take the 67-52 advantage to head into the final 10 minutes of action.

The Lions used multiple runs throughout the fourth quarter to outscore the Vikings 23-19, but seven points would be as close as they would get as the Vikings would hold on for the 86-75 victory.

After the game, Coach White talked about the win. "I think offensively we did a great job sharing the ball, getting everyone involved and taking high percentage shots, we shot the ball really well." Goncalves also spoke on her performance, "...I just went out there and did my thing. My shots were falling, and my teammates were looking for me. We had a good ball movement and we were able to get the win."

The Vikings will remain in Twohig Gymnasium, where they will face off against Framingham State in a Massachusetts State Athletic Conference (MASCAC) this Saturday, February 3. Tipoff is at noon.