Vikings Breeze by Trailblazers, 75-38

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications 

SALEM, Mass.- Abuk Teng (Manchester, N.H.) and Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) combined for 41 points to give Salem State the 75-38 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory on Wednesday evening in Twohig Gymnasium. The victory improved the Vikings record to 10-12 overall and 3-6 in conference while the Trailblazers dropped to 4-19 and 1-9.

For the Vikings, Teng recorded a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double while Gates filled the stat sheet with 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals in the victory.

On the other side, Maddie Teta (Troy, NY) made her presence felt with 11 points for the Trailblazers, while Zaylee Ramos (Worcester, Mass.)  led the team with 11 rebounds.

Spearheaded by a 9-0 run the Vikings jumped out to the early lead before the Trailblazers stopped the bleeding after a perfect trip the line made it a 17-8 game with 2:23 to play in the first. Shortly after, Gates connected on a triple to give the Vikings the double-digit edge (20-10) to enter the second quarter.

Gates started the second with another deep ball which sparked a 6-0 Viking run to give Salem the 29-13 lead with just over seven minutes left in the half. The Vikings would hold onto the double-digit lead before Gates notched another final second three-pointer, putting the Vikings ahead 36-16 to go into the break.

In the opening minutes of the third, the Vikings built on their lead with a 7-0 run, spearheaded by Jaylen Nieves (Chicopee, Mass.), to give them the 43-16 lead. The Trailblazers would try to chip away but the Vikings would have an answer as they found themselves ahead by as many as 34 points before taking the sizeable 57-22 edge heading into the final 10 minutes of action.

The Vikings would use a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to guide them to the commanding 75-38 victory over the Trailblazers.

Salem State will now embark on a two-game road trip, beginning this Saturday, February 10th, when they take on conference foe, Worcester State University. Tip-off is scheduled for noon.