SALEM Â — Marcus Faison (Cambridge, MA) had a huge night, scoring 24 points and adding 21 rebounds as Salem State earned a 91-84 come-from-behind victory over Worcester State Wednesday night at Twohig Gymnasium. It was the ninth double-double for Faison this year as he moved into seventh place all-time in rebounding in Salem State history with 717. The victory pushes the Vikings to 7-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference and 13-8 overall while the Lancers go to 4-4 and 6-14.
Worcester State’s shots were falling early and often as they jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first five minutes. During that stretch, the Lancers held the Vikings scoreless, forcing Salem State to do a complete lineup change after their starters couldn’t find the basket. Jacob Lindland (Hamilton, MA) gave his Vikings the spark they desperately needed with two three-pointers in a one-minute span that cut the deficit to 14-8. Ryan DiBernado (Springfield, MA) matched Lindland’s outside scoring with nine points on 3-6 shooting from the floor including two triples. Salem State had a tough matchup down low with six-foot-nine forward Paul Brooks (Arlington, MA) leading Worcester State with 10 first half points and four rebounds. The Vikings had a tough time stopping any Lancer from scoring in the paint as Worcester State outscored Salem State 24-18 inside.
The Vikings got back in the game with a tenacious defense that forced 13 turnovers in the half while notching 12 points in return, which included an Aaron Anniballi (Milford, MA) turnover that led to a Sean Bryan (Lowell, MA) triple that cut the Lancers’ lead to 41-38. However, Cal Howes (Maynard, MA) knocked down a corner trey ball that allowed Worcester State to take a 44-38 advantage heading into the second half.
After an inconsistent first half, the Vikings’ offense battled back in the second half with their ability to score in the post. While limiting the Lancers to 16 points in the paint, Faison and company added 26 points down low that allowed Salem State to take their first lead of the game with 7:52 on the clock. Bryan played a vital role in the Vikings’ second half comeback as he facilitated the ball and added 13 of his 21 points after intermission, including going 7-9 from the free throw line. Salem State clinched the win after Bryan made two free throws following a DiBernardo foul that put the Vikings ahead by six-points with 28-seconds remaining. Bryan added two more free throws moments later to secure the 91-84 victory.
Shaquan Murray (Boston, MA) added 18 points as he joined Faison and Bryan with double-digits. Anniballi led the Lancers with 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists while Brooks and Jeremy Bacon (Milford, MA) combined for 28 points and 16 rebounds. DiBernado and Howes added 11 points apiece.
The Vikings’ journey through the MASCAC continues on Feb. 4 when they travel to North Adams to take on MCLA at 1:00 p.m. Worcester State will resume action again on Feb. 6 when they host Fisher College at 7:00 p.m.
Women Fall
SALEM — Britt Herring (W. Brookfield, Mass.) scored a game-high 18 points on 8-11 shooting while Bianca Langford (Worcester, Mass.) added 12 rebounds, eight points and five blocks to lead Worcester State to a 61-54 victory over the Salem State Vikings on Wednesday evening at Twohig Gymnasium. The Lancers improve to 9-12 and 5-3 in the MASCAC while Salem State slides to 8-13 and 0-8 in conference.
In a tightly contested first half in which neither team led by more than five points, Worcester State took an early 12-8 lead on a layup by Catherine Sweeney (Lowell, Mass.). Maintaining their advantage into the second period, Herring gave the Lancers an 18-13 lead with 8:28 remaining. However, Kia Fernandes (Wareham, Mass.), who had nine first half points, drew Salem State to within two after a bucket and subsequent free throw. Another layup by Herring put Worcester State up by three, before the Vikings took their first lead following back-to-back buckets by Norma Waggett (Saugus, Mass.) and Fernandes with 2:32 remaining before halftime. Sweeney tied the game at 24-24 before both teams entered halftime with the score deadlocked at 26 apiece. Herring led the Lancers with nine points on 4-5 shooting from the field. The Vikings went just 1-of-8 (12.5%) from three-point range in the first half.
A Kate Lipka (Peabody, Mass.) three-pointer opened the second half as Salem State built a four-point advantage 33-29 with 6:01 remaining in the third quarter. However, Worcester State finished on a 15-4 run to take a 44-37 lead into the fourth. Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) drained two trey’s and Kaitlyn Berkel (Waterford, Conn.) added a basket as the Lancers scored eight straight points over the final two minutes as they took control of the game.
Worcester State built a 14-point advantage after a Herring layup to put the game seemingly out of reach. Trailing 55-44, Salem State went on 1 10-2 tear to draw within a possession, 57-54 with 1:08 left. Waggett led the charge with five of the points, including her first three pointer of the night. The Lancers did not break as they held the Vikings scoreless in the final minute to pull away with a 61-54 victory.
Kate Suprenant (Pelham, N.H.) added 11 points for Worcester State, which shot 11-26 (42.3%) from the field. Waggett ended the night with 16 points and eight boards while Fernandes chipped in with 13 points and five boards. The Vikings ended the game going 3-16 (18.8%) from three-point range.
Salem State goes to MCLA for a MASCAC game this Saturday beginning at 3:00 PM while Worcester State travels to Fitchburg State next Tuesday, February 8 for a 7:30 start.
Women’s Hockey Shutout
SALEM – Molly Connolly (Wellesley, Mass.) scored two goals and Caroline Booraem (Chester Springs, Pa.) notched a shutout in her first start as Amherst defeated Salem State 4-0 in non-conference action on Wednesday evening at Rockett Arena. The Purple and White improve to 10-5-4 while the Vikings slip to 3-14.
Jocelyn Hunyadi (Pepper Pike, Ohio) opened the scoring at 8:10 of the first, as she took advantage of a turnover in the Vikings’ zone and beat Salem State goalie Sarah Plourde (Hooksett, N.H.) high and away for a 1-0 lead. Molly Connolly (Wellesley, Mass.) and Katelyn Pantera tacked on two more scores before the period ended as the Purple & White took a 3-0 advantage into the first intermission.
Neither team scored in the middle period despite Amherst holding a 38-8 advantage in shots, including a 19-1 edge in the second. Connolly scored her second of the game 8:47 into the third as she fired home a rebound off the stick of Sarah Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.). Salem State used three netminders to finish the game as Katherine Crane (Arlington, Mass.) and Calie Richman (Boston, Mass.) also saw action.
Booraem made 12 saves to pick up the win while Plourde made 16 saves and Richman 26 for the Vikings, who were outshot 54-12. Anne Mallow (Canton, Mass.) added two assists for Amherst, which has lost just once in its past 10 games (6-1-3).
Salem State hosts Stevenson on Friday at 7:00 PM in a Colonial Hockey Conference matchup while Amherst travels to NESCAC opponent Trinity on February 7 for a 7:30 start.
