Women's Basketball drops MASCAC tilt at Salem State 71-61

Salem, MA- The Salem State women's basketball team received a 27 point, 12 rebound effort from Rachael Carter as the host Vikings overcame a halftime deficit and pulled away from the MCLA Trailblazers 71-61 this evening in MASCAC action.  The Vikings improve to 3-3 in conference play and 8-11 overall.  MCLA is now 4-14 overall and 0-6 in league play.

In the opening half, the Vikings held an early nine point advantage at 15-6 just eight minutes into the action.  The Trailblazers immediately responded though using 16-3 spurt to grab a 22-18 lead with six minutes left til halftime.  MCLA would eventually relinquish the lead, but when Courtney McLaughlin knocked down a jumper with 46 seconds left in the half, the Trailblazers took a 33-31 lead into locker room.

MCLA would lead by as many as five early on in the second half before Salem came storming back.  With the score at 40-35 in favor of the Trailblazers with 16:35 left to play, Salem used a 24-1 run to seize control and grab a 59-41 with nine minutes to play.  The Trailblazers went 0-12 from the field during that decisive stretch.  The lead would grow to as many as 20 points at 69-49 and MCLA would get no closer than the final margin.

MCLA was paced by Brayleigh Hanlon's team high 13 points.  Kaitlyn Chenevert added 11 points, while McLaughlin scored 10.  MCLA shot just 33% from the floor and committed 22 turnovers.

Carter was outstanding for Salem going 9-18 from the field.  She also added 4 assists and 3 steals to her stat line.  She was joined in double figures by Rachel Ledbetter's 12 points, while Ginny Fleming added 10.  The Vikings shot 43% from the floor, but did commit 21 turnovers.

The Trailblazers are back in action on Saturday when they host Bridgewater State at 1pm.