Gates Guides Vikings to Victory

WATERVILLE, Maine – Salem State women's basketball traveled north this afternoon to face the Terriers of Thomas College, where Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) led the Vikings to a 79-65 victory with a game-high 26 points (10-14 FG), improving their record to 6-7 on the season.

Along with her 26 points, Gates also contributed seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals in the win. Teammates Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) and Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, Mass.) each recorded double-doubles, with 15 points and 14 rebounds for Zaiter, and 15 points and 10 rebounds for Goncalves.

For the Terriers, Sky Kubwalo (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Holly Loring (Enfield, Maine) added 12 points in the effort.

How it Happened:

• The first quarter featured back-and-forth action, with seven ties and three lead changes with Thomas holding a slight 20-18 edge at the buzzer.
• The Terriers grabbed a five-point advantage to start the second before nine unanswered Vikings' points put them back on top, 29-25 at the midway point.
• Fueled by six points from Gates, the Vikings maintained their lead for the remainder of the half, heading into the break with a 41-35 advantage.
• Gates extended the Vikings' lead to double with a layup at the 3:40 mark, making it 50-40. However, the Terriers responded with a 9-2 run, cutting the deficit and closing the third quarter with a score of 52-49.
• The Terriers pulled within one less than a minute into the fourth quarter, but back-to-back layups from Zaiter restored the Vikings' cushion. The Terriers stayed within striking distance until the 1:38 mark, when a Zaiter layup ignited a 10-3 run to close the game and secure a 79-65 victory for the Vikings.

Inside the Numbers:

• Kylie Gates' 26 points is a season-high for the senior.
• Liz Zaiter recorded her first double-double of the season in today's victory.
• The Vikings' win this afternoon boosted their all-time record against the Terriers to 3-0.

Up Next

The Vikings open conference play this Wednesday, January 8^th when they travel to Bridgewater State University for a 7:30 p.m. start.