Zaiter Nets 1,000 Point in Win Over MCLA

SALEM, Mass. – Salem State women's basketball wrapped up their home stint this evening when they welcomed the Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) for a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup. After a game characterized by runs, the Vikings stole the 74-62 victory over the Trailblazers to improve to 8-10 overall and break the .500 mark in conference play (3-2).

In tonight's victory, Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) became the 19^th member of Salem State women's basketball to join the 1,000-point club after netting her 29th point of the game in the fourth quarter. She would go onto lead all scorers with a career-high 33 points to go along with six boards. Additionally, Alyssa Genness (Belgrade, Maine) and Abuk Teng (Manchester, N.H.) recorded 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Zaylee Ramos (Worcester, Mass.) paced the Trailblazers with 17 points and five boards, while teammates Kristie Zator (Windham, Conn.) and Hailey Peabody (West Springfield, Mass.) added 15 and 14 points of their own in the loss.

How it Happened:

• Due to a trio of three-pointers from Zator, the Trailblazers were able to stay within striking distance of the Vikings and only find themselves down by four (15-11) with five minutes to play in the opening stanza. After being held scoreless for three minutes, the Vikings mounted a 9-2 run to close out the first quarter and head into the second with the 24-15 advantage.
• MCLA used the opening three minutes of the second quarter to cut into the Vikings lead, finding themselves within four points of the home team after a 6-1 run in their favor. The next four minutes of the second remained scoreless with neither team being able to find the bottom of the basket. The silence was not broken until the 3:36 mark when Alyssa Genness (Belgrade, Maine) netted a three to put the Vikings back up by a tally of seven (28-21). This would spark both squads to exchange baskets for the remainder of the half with the Vikings taking the slight 37-29 edge after 20 minutes of play.
• The Trailblazers opened the second half with the first four points to bring the score to 37-33 before a Zaiter layup ignited the Vikings to a 4-0 run of their own to put them back ahead by a tally of eight (41-33).
• The Vikings saw themselves with the nine-point lead before a 6-0 run by the Trailblazers brought it to a one-possession game (44-41) with 4:49 to play in the third. The Vikings went on a 14-5 run, which was spearheaded by 12 points from Zaiter, to bring them into the final ten minutes of play with the 59-46 edge.
• In the opening ten seconds of the fourth, Zaiter not only added to the Vikings' lead (60-46) but netted her 29^th point of the night which solidified her name in the 1,000-point club. Two minutes later, Zaiter added to her total when a jumper gave the Vikings the 16-point lead which would prove to be their largest of the game.
• At the 4:26 mark, Jaylen Nieves (Chicopee, Mass.) would add to the Viking's total after four unanswered points of her own gave her squad the 18-point edge forcing the Trailblazer's hand at a timeout. Despite coming within 12 points of the home team, the deficit would prove to be too great for the Trailblazers and the Vikings would coast to the eventual 74-62 conference win.