Salem State College Athletics

Salem, Mass. -- Senior forward Danielle Jenkins (Marlborough, MA) scored 15 points to lead a balanced Salem State attack, as the Lady Vikings thumped Worcester State 72-58 Tuesday night at Twohig Gymnasium. The Lady Vikings' record improved to 11-6 overall, 4-2 in Massachusetts State College Atheltic Conference play. Worcester State fell to 9-9, 3-3.

Salem State broke open the game with parallel 9-0 runs to end the first half and start the second half. The 18 consecutive points turned a 25-21 Lady Viking lead into a 43-21 bulge two minutes into the final period.

Jenkins scored a pair of hoops and Kerry Stokes (Newbury, MA) buried a three to spark the first half run and give SSC a 34-21 advantage at halftime. Freshman forward Brianna Wilson (Lowell, MA) converted a conventional three-point play and freshman guard Erica Batchelder (Stoughton, MA) drilled a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes of the second half to put the game out of reach, as the Lancers got no closer than the final deficit the rest of the way.

Twelve different players scored for Salem State, which finished with three players in double figures. Batchelder had 14 points, including three three-pointers, and Wilson finished with 11. Junior guard Alexis George (Worcester, MA) led the Lancers with a game-high 19 points on 8-10 shooting, while Bri Flanders (Southampton, MA) added 11.

The Lady Vikings jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, as Wilson scored three early hoops. A time out righted the ship for Worcester State, as freshman center Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) scored five points in an 11-3 spurt to knot the game at 11. One minute later, with the game tied at 13, Madeleine Park (Blue Hill , ME) hit a three to give Salem State a lead it would not relinquish. Worcester State did not score in the final four minutes of the first half, and went the first four minutes of the second half without any points.

The Salem State defense forced 23 turnovers and held Worcester State to just 41.2% shooting. The Lady Vikings held a decisive edge at the free throw line, connecting on 20-26 WSU was just 12-21.

The Lady Vikings take a break from conference play when they visit UMass-Dartmouth Thursday night at 7 p.m.