Vikings Coast to Win Over Falcons

SALEM, Mass. –- Irianis Delgado (Lynn, Mass.) led four players in double figures as Salem State defeated Fitchburg State for the second time this week, 79-58 on Wednesday evening at Twohig Gymnasium. The Vikings, who beat the Falcons 80-61 on Monday, improve to 5-16 and 3-7 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). Fitchburg State slides to 2-18 overall and 1-8. Delgado recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Salem State built a six-point first quarter lead behind 10 combined points from Julia Mattera (Arlington, Mass.) and Delgado. Tied 8-8, Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) and Katie Wallace (Peabody, Mass.) connected for back-to-back baskets to put the Vikings in front by four. A three-pointer by Morgan Genness (Belgrade, Maine) cut the deficit to a single point, before five straight points by Salem State to end the quarter gave the Vikings a 22-16 lead.

A layup by Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) put Salem State on top 26-16 early in the second quarter as the Vikings began to dominate in the paint, holding a 16-6 edge midway through the second quarter. Back-to-back baskets by Fitchburg State's Jadelen Harold (Nantucket, Mass.) brought the Falcons to within six points with 1:10 remaining before halftime, but Gates connected for a three, giving the Vikings a nine-point halftime advantage, 40-31.

Harold led all first half scorers with 10 first half points for Fitchburg State, which shot 13-of-42 (31.0%) from the floor. Delgado topped the scoring list for Salem State with nine points as the Vikings managed to go 16-of-44 from the field, including 3-of-7 (42.9%) from three-point range.

Both teams struggled from the floor in the third, as the two teams combined to go 0-of-10 from three- point range. Seven points by Delgado helped Salem State extend their lead to 17 following a basket by Gabby Torres (Peabody, Mass.). Harlow continued to carry the Falcons' offense, netting eight points as her basket right before the quarter ended made the score 56-41.

Salem State maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth. A Gates layup pushed the lead to 67-51 in favor of the Vikings at the 4:38 mark of the final quarter. A three by Anaily Lorenzo (Brockton, Mass.) gave Salem State its largest margin of 22 points, 79-57 as Salem State shot 9-of-15 (60.0%) from the field  in the final quarter before settling for a 79-58 victory.

Zaiter finished with 15 points and nine boards while Gates added 12 points and five steals. Mattera chipped in with 10 points. Wallace corralled 10 of Salem State's 58 rebounds.

Harold led Fitchburg State with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) had six points and five rebounds and Genness six points and four assists for the Falcons, who connected on 24-of-77 (31.2%) shots for the game.

Salem State outscored Fitchburg State 48-26 in the paint.