Vikings Pick Up First MASCAC Win

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Liz Zaiter scored a season-high 25 points and recorded 20 rebounds as Salem State defeated MCLA 55-50 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest at Amsler Campus Center Gym on Wednesday night. The Vikings earned their first conference win of the season (1-1) and improve to 3-10 on the year. MCLA remains winless at (0-13, 0-2).

Irianis Delgado contributed 16 points and 14 rebounds in the win while Kylie Gates finished with six points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Brooke DiGennaro led the Trailblazers with 18 points and Hannah Mazzeo notched 16 points and 11 boards.

The Vikings held MCLA to one field goal (1-for-14) in the first quarter, taking a 10-3 lead behind four points from Delgado. Late in the second quarter, a Delgado layup helped Salem State to their largest lead 22-13 before a three by Emily Burke cut the deficit to 22-16 in favor of the Vikings at halftime.   

The Trailblazers outscored Salem State 14-8 to open the third quarter as DiGennaro netted nine points in the period. Her layup with 4:26 remaining tied the game at 30-all. The two teams exchanged baskets over the final four minutes and a three by Burke gave the home team a 38-37 lead heading into the fourth.   

A three-pointer by Olivia Pressley gave the Trailblazers their largest lead, 41-38 at the 7:17 mark. However, with the Vikings trailing by a point, Delgado gave Salem State the lead back for good, 46-45 with with a basket with just over four minutes left. A Gates three and Gabby Torres jumper pushed the margin to eight points as Salem State held off MCLA in the final minute to secure a five-point victory.

The Vikings shot 24-70 (34.3%) from the field and outrebounded the Trailblazers 67-40.