Vikings' Late Rally Falls Short Against Owls, 80-75

THE BASICS

Westfield State, 80 vs. Salem State, 75

Records:

Westfield State Owls (12-5, 4-2)

Salem State Vikings (8-9, 4-2)

Location: Salem, Mass. – James Twohig Gymnasium

Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026

THE LEAD - Despite a relentless fourth quarter comeback and a game-high 20 points from Maria Orfanos (Sr.), the Salem State women's basketball team dropped a hard fought 80-75 decision to the Westfield State Owls on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings displayed immense resilience in the final frame, outscoring the Owls 25-19, but were unable to bridge the gap in the closing seconds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The contest opened as a defensive stalemate. Maria Orfanos and Ernidia Goncalves (Sr.) traded early baskets with the Owls to keep the game within two points after the first ten minutes. However, the Vikings’ rhythm faltered in the second quarter as Westfield State capitalized on a scoring run, leaving Salem State with a 37-29 halftime deficit.

The momentum shifted back toward the Vikings late in the third quarter when Orfanos drained a buzzer beating three pointer, cutting the Owls' lead to 11. This sparked a furious fourth quarter charge. Sunali Carter (So.) ignited the rally with a shot from deep, and a flurry of layups from Shakera Fullenwilder (Sr.) and Goncalves brought the Twohig Gymnasium crowd to its feet. With only 36 seconds remaining, Yami Guerrero (Fy.) fought through the paint for a layup to pull the Vikings within two points at 75-73. Forced to foul to stop the clock, Salem State could only watch as the Owls secured the win at the charity stripe.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Maria Orfanos paced the Vikings with 20 points, four assists, and five steals. Shakera Fullenwilder was clinical off the bench, providing 16 points on 7 of 12 shooting.

Ernidia Goncalves recorded a strong double double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Yami Guerrero anchored the glass with 11 rebounds and a team high six assists.

The Vikings were dominant on the boards, outrebounding the Owls 51-45. This included a staggering 27 offensive rebounds, which allowed Salem State to stay competitive despite a tough shooting night from the floor.

UP NEXT

The Vikings finish up their homestand as they host the MCLA Trailblazers this Wednesday, January 28, tipping off the first game of an SSU basketball doubleheader at 5 p.m.

By Jack Zenger '25

Photo Credit: Lilly Nunez '25