Vikings Record Third Straight Victory

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Kylie Gates notched a career-high 33 points, while dishing out eight assists, to lead Salem State women's basketball to their third consecutive win after they defeated the Falcons of Fitchburg State University tonight by a score of 80-66. The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory for the Vikings bumped their record to 12-12 overall and 5-6 in conference action while dropping the Falcons to 5-19 overall and 2-9 in MASCAC play. 

Behind Gates' career-night, Ernidia Goncalves (Everett, Mass.) turned away six shots while recording yet another double-double with 21 points and 18 rebounds. Nicolette D'Itria (Revere, Mass.) filled the stat sheet with six points, five assists and seven rebounds in the victory.

The Falcons were paced by Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) who had 21 points, five assists, and seven rebounds while Olivia Almeida (Wilmington, Mass.) chipped in 18 points in the effort.

Four minutes into the action the Falcons would take the slight 5-4 edge before the Vikings would outscore the home team 22-7, behind 10 points from Gates, to take the 14-point lead (26-12) heading into the second quarter.

The Vikings would lead by as many as 16 points before the Falcons mounted a comeback to come back within nine (29-20) and force the Vikings' hand at a timeout. The regroup worked in the Vikings' favor as they quickly regained the double-digit lead, but the Falcons would hang around and find themselves in a seven-point game (33-26) with 1:36 to play in the half. From there, the Vikings would only allow the Falcons to tack on one more point to take the 38-27 edge to head into halftime.

Mikayler Patch (North Attleboro, Mass.) started the scoring in the second half but three minutes later the Vikings reclaimed their double-digit edge after Gates found the bottom of the net to make it a 44-33 game. The Falcons remained within striking distance and after four unanswered points they found themselves within six points (54-48) with just over two minutes to play in the third. Goncalves and Amayah McConney (Salem, Mass.) would record the only points over the remaining two minutes to make it a 57-48 game heading into the final quarter.

Gates took control to come out of the break as she recorded nine of her 11 fourth quarter points in the opening minutes to give the Vikings a comfortable 18-point lead with 7:53 remaining in the game. Fitchburg looked to make a last-minute rally when they went on an 8-0 run, bringing themselves within 10, but that would be as close as they would get as the Vikings would go on to take the 80-66 victory.

The Vikings look to extend their win streak this Saturday, February 17 when they welcome the Owls of Westfield State University for their final regular-season MASCAC matchup.  Tipoff is scheduled for noon in Salem.