Salem State Runs Past Fitchburg State 80-61

Fitchburg, Mass.  – Four Salem State players notched double figures as Salem State easily dispatched Fitchburg State 80-61 on Monday evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the Parkinson Gymnasium. Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) - 26 points and 14 rebounds and Irianis Delgado (Lynn, Mass.) - 17 points and 10 rebounds both recorded a double-double as the Vikings improve to 4-16 and 2-7 in conference. The Falcons are now 2-17 and 1-7 in the MASCAC. 

Julia Mattera (Arlington, Mass.) scored 12 points while Alyssa Genness (Belgrade, Maine) contributed 10 points in the win. Katie Wallace (Peabody, Mass.) had eight points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Vikings', who's starters accounted for 73 of the 80 points scored.

1st Quarter

Freshman Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) and classmate Morgan Genness (Belgrade, ME) knocked down deep three-pointers to even the score at 6-6. Salem State countered with a jumper from Alyssa Genness to take a 9-6 lead. The Green and Gold forged ahead (11-9) on a fast-break layup from Harlow but the Vikings answered with four points from Zaiter to retake the lead (13-11). Freshman Allison Prentis (Mansfield, Mass.) connected as time expired to give the Falcons a 16-15 lead after one.

2^nd Quarter

Salem State opened the second quarter with seven unanswered points capped by a jumper from Delgado. Trailing 24-21, freshman Pena Niles (Billerica, Mass.) made the steal and the layup to cut the deficit to 24-23 midway through the frame. Fitchburg State countered with a 7-0 run including back-to-back jumpers from senior Jadelen Harold (Nantucket, Mass.) to push the score to 30-28. Delgado would finish the frame with a jumper to give the Vikings the 32-30 lead at intermission.

3^rd Quarter

Harlow once again opened a quarter with a three-pointer to give the Falcons the lead (33-32).  Three-pointers from Genness and Mattera swelled the Vikings lead to 48-37. The Falcons chipped away at the lead with baskets from Genness, Sariah Dyer (Raynham, Mass.), and a trey from Prentis, but trailed 57-46 after three.

4th quarter

The Falcons opened the forth with solid defense and cut the lead to six points with a three-pointer from Harlow. The Vikings responded with four points from Zaitier to extend the advantage (61-51).  Harold had a layup for the Falcons but the visitors answered with a trey from Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) to make the score 68-57. Mattera would add three from the charity stripe, resulting in the 80-61.

Harlow finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds while Harold contributed 16 points and 5 caroms for the Falcons.

Salem State shot 30-for-71 (42.3%) from the field and (4-for-19) 21.1% from three-point range. Fitchburg State finished 24-for-71 (33.8%) overall and (8-for-26) 30.8% for beyond the arc.  

(Contributions from Fitchburg State Sports Information)