Rams Defeat Vikings, 75-56

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications 

SALEM, Mass. --  Framingham State University held the Vikings to 18 first-half points to guide them to the 75-56 victory this afternoon in Twohig Gymnasium. The victory improved the Rams to 19-2 overall and 8-1 in conference play while the loss dropped the Vikings to 9-12 overall and 2-6 in the conference.

For the Vikings, Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, Mass.) remained dominate as she recorded a 24-point, 18- rebound double-double. Teammate, Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) added 12 points and six assists in the effort.

Flannery O'Connor (Amesbury, Mass.) and Kelsey Yelle (South Easton, Mass.) led the Rams with 16 points apiece while grabbing 15 and seven rebounds, respectively. Gwendolyn Carpenter (Ashley Falls, Mass.) dished out a game-high 10 assists in the effort.

The Rams found their first double-digit lead of the game after six minutes of play when an easy two at the 3:37 mark made it a 16-6 game. With just over one minute to play in the opening stanza, Haley Phillips (Haverhill, Mass.) would connect on a triple to make it a five-point game before Framingham closed the first quarter with four unanswered points to take the 20-11 edge to go into second.

One minute into the second the Rams would go on a 12-1 run before Jaylen Nieves (Chicopee, Mass.) stopped the bleeding to make it a 34-16 game with 4:44 to play in the half. The Rams would allow the Vikings to find the bottom of the net one more time in the quarter to take the impressive 44-18 lead heading into the break.

At halftime, Chloe Rayko (Coventry, R.I.) led the Rams with 11 points while Gwendolyn Carpenter (Ashley Falls, Mass.) had an impressive seven steals. For Salem State, Goncalves led the Vikings with eight points and seven rebounds.

The Rams continued to dominate coming out of the half, leading by as many as 34 points before entering the final ten minutes of play ahead, 62-30.

The Vikings would outscore the Rams 26-13 in the fourth, but despite their dominant quarter their deficit proved to be too large as Framingham would still go on to take the 75-56 victory over the Vikings.

The Vikings are back at home on Wednesday, February 7 when they welcome the Trailblazers from MCLA for their annual Pride Game. Tipoff is at 5p.m..