Teng and Gates Eclipse 1,000 Point Mark in Victory Over Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Salem State women's basketball seniors Abuk Teng (Manchester, N.H.) and Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) both surpassed the 1,000-point mark in their 90-79 victory over the Bridgewater State Bears. This Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) win improves the Vikings' record to 7-7 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Kylie Gates led the Vikings with eight assists and an efficient 23 points (9-11 FG), including a perfect 4-for-4 performance from beyond the arc. Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, Mass.) posted a dominant double-double with 19 points and 19 rebounds, while Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) and Abuk Teng added 19 points and 14 points, respectively, in the victory.

For the Bears, Sophie Bradbury came off the bench to lead her team with 19 points, including five three-pointers. Kylie Grassi and Kylee Piche each contributed 14 points in the effort.

How it Happened:

• Goncalves and Zaiter combined for 12 of the Vikings' first-quarter points, helping their team to a 21-20 lead after the opening stanza.
• The Bears found their rhythm to start the second, scoring eight unanswered points to take a 29-21 lead. However, their advantage was short-lived, as Nicolette D'Itria (Revere, Mass.) drove to the basket for a tough and-one, putting the Vikings back on top, 34-32, at the 5:46 mark.
• The rest of the quarter saw six lead changes and three ties, but the Vikings would string together a series of buckets before the end of the half to head into the break with a 49-42 lead.
• The Vikings started the third quarter with an 8-0 run, quickly extending their lead to 15 points just two minutes into the period.
• Fueled by six points and two assists from Gates, the Vikings reached their largest lead of the game, 68-47, at the 2:58 mark. The Bears responded by chipping away at the deficit for the remainder of the quarter, cutting the Vikings' lead to 11 points as they headed into the final 10 minutes of action.
• The Bears mounted a late push, knocking down three consecutive three-pointers to trim the deficit to 10 points with a little over a minute to play. However, Gates delivered the final blow, sinking a corner three to reach her 1,000th point and secure the 90-79 victory for the Vikings.

Inside the Numbers:

• Abuk Teng and Kylie Gates became the 20^th and 21^st members to join the Salem State Women's basketball 1,000-point club, marking the first time teammates have achieved this milestone in the same game. 
• The Vikings shot a program-high 56.9% from the field and a season-high 72.7% from the beyond the arc in tonight's victory.
  
  

Up Next:

The Vikings are back at home this Saturday, January 11 when they host Husson for a non-conference bout at 5:00p.m.