Vikings Secure Impressive 97-85 Victory Over Bison

SALEM, Mass. – In a high-scoring afternoon, the Salem State women's basketball team secured their second win in a row, defeating the Bison of Nichols College by a score of 97-85 to improve to 2-3 on the season.  

The duo of Irianis Delgado (Lynn, Mass.) and Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) paved the way for the Vikings, scoring 30 and 29 points, respectively. Delgado also pulled in a career- high 26 rebounds, while Zaiter grabbed 18 of her own. Additionally, Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) did a little bit of everything for the Vikings, recording a triple- double (10 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists) in the victory.

The Bison were paced by Abriana Vazquez (Dedham, Mass.) who had 22 points, six assists, and five steals on the afternoon. Teammate, Leandra Ortiz (Queens, N.Y.) had 16 points of her own to go along with five rebounds and three assists.

The first quarter set the tone for the game as the action was back and forth with both teams trading baskets throughout to bring the score to 21-19, with the Vikings holding the slight edge after 10 minutes of play.

Back-to-back buckets from Ortiz in the opening minute of the second quarter brought the score to 23-21 in favor of the Bison, giving them their first lead since the 6:41 mark of the first quarter. From there, the Vikings went on a 13-0 run, with the scoreboard reading 34-23 with just over six minutes to play in the quarter. The Bison got within two points after a made three-pointer from Kayliana Salazar (Manchester, Conn.) brought the score to 34-32 but that would be as close as they would get to the Vikings as the buzzer for half signaled three minutes later, with Salem ahead, 47-33.

Delgado opened up the half with six unanswered points for the Vikings, extending their lead to 20 with 8:20 on the clock. The Bison attempted to chip away throughout the third with a full court press but a Gates layup with just over two minutes to play in the third  brought the score to 69-49 and gave the Vikings another 20-point cushion. The Bison outscored the Vikings in the remaining two minutes to give them some momentum entering the final 10 minutes of play and the score at 74-56.

Nichols came out firing to start the final stanza, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers in the opening minute to cut Salem's lead to 74-62. With just over six minutes to play, Vazquez scored five unanswered points to bring the Bison within 10 points. From there, the Bison amped up their pressure and were able to force turnovers and put Salem in foul trouble. With just about four minutes to play in the game, Vazquez and Ortiz both went 2-2 from the charity stripe to bring their team within five points and the score to 84-79. But five would be as close as the Bison would get as the Vikings went on a 7-0 run that would eventually carry them to the impressive 97-85 victory.