Salem State College Athletics

Salem, Mass -- On a day when the Salem State basketball program recognized the heroes of yesterday, the star of the current team stole the show, as the Lady Vikings ran to a 66-54 victory over Westfield State Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymnasium. 

Senior forward Danielle Jenkins (Marlborough, MA), who ranks fifth all-time in career points at SSC, scored a game-high 21 points - despite being triple-teamed throughout the second half - as the Lady Vikings improved to 15-6 overall, 6-2 in Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference play. Westfield State fell to 7-14, 1-8.

Jenkins added a game-high 15 rebounds to her impressive day, and she was aided by Amy Barry (Manchester, NH) and Jakoya Wilkins (Dorchester, MA), who had nine points apiece. The Owls were led by Ashley Finnegan (Worcester, MA) with 18, while Briana Kelly (Hampden, MA) had 10.

Trailing 24-23 in the opening minutes of the second half, Westfield State went on a mini 5-0 run to match its largest lead of the game, 28-24 with 15:35 remaining. The prosperity was short-lived, however, as less than 80 seconds later, the Owls' lead was gone for good. Thanks to eight points from Jenkins, the Lady Vikings blitzed past them with a devastating 22-3 run, and Westfield State never recovered.

Jenkins jump-started the spurt with a low-post bucket and a free throw to cut the deficit to one. Barry's three from the corner - her third of the game - put SSC up for good, 30-28, with 14:15 remaining. Free throws by Kelly and Cassy Jouannet (Conway, MA) kept the Owls within three, 34-31, but four points by Whitney Wilson (Lowell, MA) and three-point plays from Jenkins and Wilkins ignited a 12-0 run, and when the smoke had cleared, Salem State's lead was 15, 46-31.

Molly Brogan (Mendon, MA) broke snapped the Westfield State drought and scored its first basket in nearly eight minutes, but the damage had already been done. Salem State hit eight of its first 11 shots in the second half, and the Owls had no answer for Jenkins, who scored 15 of her 21 points after intermission. WSC would get no closer than 11 the rest of the way.

The Lady Vikings were able to grind out a 19-18 lead at the half when Barry drilled a three with 14 seconds remaining. Each team struggled out of the gate, as SSC shot just 31% (8-26) from the field and committed seven turnovers, while the Owls shot just 27% (8-30) and had six turnovers. Finnegan kept her team in the game, scoring 12 of Westfield State's 18 points. She shot 5-10 from the field, while the rest of the Owls were just 3-20 (15%) combined.

Salem State looks to hold on to its second-place standing in the MASCAC when it hits the road for a crucial conference game at Framingham State Tuesday night at 6 p.m.