Vikings Freeze Out Owls, 71-57

WESTFIELD, Mass.    – Both teams made distinct runs, but it was Salem State's big third quarter that powered the Vikings to a 71-57 win over Westfield State in a MASCAC women's basketball game at the O'Keefe Center in Salem on Wednesday night.

Salem snapped a 19-game losing streak against the Owls that dated back to the 2013-14 season.

The Vikings improve to 10-9 and 4-1 in the league, while Westfield slips to 11-7 and 3-2 in the conference.

Salem now shares the league lead with Bridgewater State, one game ahead of Westfield in the loss column.

Ernidia Goncalves led Salem State with 18 points and 19 rebounds.  Kylie Gates added 17 points while connecting on 3 of 4 from three-point range.

Westfield got 16 points and seven steals from Jordan Grant and 15 points from Maddie Pond.  Jess Gardner added seven points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Westfield led 35-32 at the half, but the Vikings outscored Westfield 22-7 in the third quarter, powered by a 15-0 run over the middle six minutes of the quarter.   Westfield suffered through a dismal shooting night where they connected on just 25 percent from the floor and were 6-43 (14 percent) from three-point range.  Westfield was even colder from the floor in the third quarter, shooting just 14 percent in the period.

Salem led 54-42 after three quarters, and held on down the stretch, making six of six from the foul line in the final minute to ensure the victory.  The Vikings finished 23-34 at the foul line on the day while the Owls were just 5-7 at the stripe.

The Owls trailed 15-5 early in the game, but Westfield's pressure defense keyed an extended 30-10 run from the first quarter into the second, with the Owls taking a 35-25 lead on an offensive rebound and putback from Gardner.

Pond paced the Owls with 10 points in the first half.

Westfield will next travel to Framingham State on Saturday for a 2:00 p.m. start against the Rams.