Bears Handle Vikings in MASCAC Matchup

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – This afternoon, Salem State women's basketball traveled to Bridgewater to take on the Bears of Bridgewater State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) bout. The Bears' high-powered offensive proved to be too much for the Vikings, as the home team exploded for 92 points to secure the 92-59 MASCAC victory, dropping Salem State to 6-9 overall and 1-1 in conference.

Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) paced the Vikings with 16 points and four rebounds, while classmate Alyssa Genness (Belgrade, Maine) chipped in 13 points in the effort.

On the other side, Bridgewater State had four players in double figures, led by Eryn Rice (Medway, Mass.) who notched 22 on the game to lead all scorers. The Bears had an efficient afternoon overall as well, shooting 46.7% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc to contribute to their 92- point showing.

How it Happened:

• The Vikings were able to land their first two shot attempts to jump out to the 5-0 lead before the Bears scored five of their own to even the score at five apiece with six minutes to play in the quarter. Two minutes later, after a perfect trip to the charity stripe, the Vikings found themselves back in the driver's seat and ahead by three (11-8) before the Bears closed out the opening stanza on a 17-6 run to go into the second quarter of action with the 25-17 advantage.
• Salem opened the second quarter with five unanswered points to cut the Vikings deficit to three (25-22) but the Bears remained unnerved and found their first double-digit advantage two minutes later when the scoreboard read 35-24 in favor of the home team.   
• With just over three minutes to play in the half, Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, Mass.) found the bottom of the basket to bring the score to 41-28 but the Bears would go on a 9-0 run to take the commanding 22-point lead (50-28). Both team's traded baskets in the final minute of the half before the Bears entered the break with the sizeable 54-30 advantage.
• The Bears' offense remained hot in the third quarter, never letting the Vikings get within 24 points, which allowed them to enter the final ten minutes of action with the 78-46 edge and their largest lead of the game (32).
•  Despite the Vikings being able to hold the Bears to their lowest point total in the fourth quarter, Bridgewater State was still able to take the commanding 92-59 victory over the Vikings.