Women's basketball falls on senior day to Vikings 74-68
North Adams, MA- The visiting Salem State women's basketball team received 48 points and 23 rebounds from the duo of Ginny Fleming and Rachael Carter as the Vikings held off a game MCLA squad 74-68 on senior day. With the win, the Vikings end the regular season at 12-13 and will move on to the MASCAC playoffs next week as they finished the league at 7-5. MCLA ends their season at 4-21 and 0-12 in the conference.
Fleming finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Carter filled the stat sheet 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Ashley White was the only other Viking in double figures with 12 points.
After trailing at halftime, the Vikings came out and quickly took control only to hold on late. They opened up a 66-57 lead with just 5:30 remaining as Carter and Fleming were in control. From there, MCLA would mount a rally.
After trading baskets, MCLA would score eight straight points to get within one at 68-67 with 1:17 left to play after Kaitlyn Chenevert drilled a three pointer. Fleming would make one of two at the line to push the Vikings up two points with under a minute left.
Chenevert answered with a free throw of her own to pull MCLA back within a point at 69-68, however Salem would score the final five points to secure the win. The big play was Lara Bruni's putback off a White free throw with 22 seconds left.
The opening half was a back and forth affair until MCLA began to pull away as Salem continued to turn the ball over. With the score tied at 22 with 4:41 left until halftime, the Trailblazers went on a quick 7-0 run to seize control. Brayleigh Hanlon started the spurt with a three and when Ashley Clawson converted off of a steal MCLA led 29-22, their largest lead of the half.
Salem would respond using a run of their own to pull back even with MCLA. The Vikings went on a 10-3 spurt to tie the game at 32 all with just a minute to play. Kaitlyn Chenevert's basket for MCLA with 48 seconds left gave the Trailblazers a 34-32 lead at halftime. Each team shot well in the opening half with MCLA at 44% and Salem at 50%. The Vikings were hampered by 15 first half turnovers.
The Trailblazers placed five players in double figures led by Chenevert's 15. She added 5 assists and 4 steals. Scolpino scored all 13 of her points in the second half, including three triples. Also finishing in double figures was Hanlon with 14, Ashley Clawson with 12, and Michaela Siver with 10.
Prior to the game, MCLA honored Chenevert and Danielle Scolpino, seniors playing their final games in North Adams.