Vikings Fall to Lions in Season Opener

SALEM, Mass. – Salem State women's basketball kicked off their 2024-25 season this afternoon, hosting the Emerson College Lions at Twohig Gymnasium for a non-conference matchup. The Lions' strong defense in the second and third quarters limited the Vikings to single-digit scoring in both frames, helping them secure the 71-59 victory over the Vikings. The loss drops Salem State to 0-1 to begin the season.

The Vikings were led by Abuk Teng (Manchester, N.H.), who posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) continued with 18 points, four steals, and three assists in the effort.

For the Lions, Bri Frongillo (Hopedale, Mass.) led the way with a game-high 24 points and six assists. Claire English (Winchester, Mass.) added a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Jessie Silk (Newton, Mass.) and Elise Arnold (Los Angeles, Calif.) contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, to help secure the win.

How it Happened:

• The first quarter saw back-and-forth action, with the largest lead being three points in favor of the Lions at the 5:38 mark. However, a last-second heave from Gates gave the Vikings a slim 21-19 lead to end the first quarter.
• Teng would use a perfect trip at the charity stripe to give Salem the 26-23 edge before a 6-2 Lions' run reclaimed the lead for Emerson and forced the Vikings to regroup with a timeout.
• The Lions took control of the game coming out of the timeout, holding Salem State to just one point in the final 3:35 of the half while scoring eight unanswered points to give them a 37-29 lead as they entered the break.
• Coming out of the half, Emerson quickly scored back-to-back buckets to take the game's first double-digit lead at 41-29. A free throw by Kylie Gates briefly halted the run, but the Lions responded with eight unanswered points, extending their lead to 49-30 with 4:29 remaining in the third quarter. The Lions limited the Vikings to just six points for the remainder of the third quarter, giving them the 20 point lead (58-38) to enter the final 10 minutes of play.
• The Vikings' offense came alive in the fourth quarter, as a 13-2 run, sparked by six points from Gates, cut the deficit to 63-51 with 5:07 remaining. A little later, back-to-back baskets from Gates pulled Salem State within eight points, 65-57, with 1:35 to play. However, that would be as close as the Vikings would get, as the Lions iced the game by going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line to secure the 71-59 victory over the Vikings.

Inside the Numbers:

• This afternoon's matchup between the Vikings and Lions marked the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
• Maria Orfanos (Lynn, Mass.) and Kylie Schrock (Rockport, Mass.) recorded six and two points, respectively, in their debuts as Vikings.  

Up Next

The Vikings welcome the Rams from Suffolk University to Twohig Gymnasium this Tuesday, November 12^th for a 7 p.m. start.