Box Score

Monique Salmon scored 16 points and dished out a career-high 13 assists to help lead the visiting Bearcats to a 75-57 victory over Salem State to win the Salem State Christmas Tournament on Tuesday evening in historic Salem, Massachusetts.

Salmon, who currently leads the NCAA Division III with 8.9 assists per game, was named the Tournament MVP. She also grabbed eight rebounds in 34 minutes of action.

The Bearcats, who improve to 7-3 overall, trailed early in the non-conference battle between two schools that played in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

The Vikings quickly led the Bearcats, 20-12, nine minutes into the game, but Baruch rallied to take a 34-31 advantage on a 3-pointer by Awa Diop to end the opening half on a positive note.

The Bearcats kept up the intensity in the opening minutes of the second half and built up the lead to 45-34 on a pair of 3-pointers by Karlee Whipple and another by Diop.

Salem State responded with their own hometown rally to get to within one point (48-47) with 12:38 left in the game, but Baruch never lost their composure and exploded with a 23-4 run to lead 71-51 with 4:50 remaining. That game-busting run was enough to hold on to the victory.

Junior forward Christina Kelly (seven rebounds) was pivotal in the second half by scoring 13 of her 15 total points in the final nine minutes to help the Bearcats run away with the victory. Kelly also finished shooting an impressive 6-of-7 from the field during the big second half.

Kalea Davis (nine rebounds) and Salmon led Baruch with 16 points each this evening, while Whipple finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five steals.

Salem State received an impressive solo performance from Danielle Jenkins with 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocked shot. The Vikings from the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) drop to a 5-5 record on the season.

The women’s basketball team will return to action next Monday, January 5, with a 6:00 pm non-conference contest at Richard Stockton College in Pomona, New Jersey.