NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Visiting Salem State received 25 points and 20 rebounds from Liz Zaiter as it pulled away late from MCLA  to earn a 55-50 win Wednesday evening. 

 

The two teams played it pretty tight for most of the contest. The visiting Vikings (3-10, 1-1 MASCAC) led 22-16 at halftime, but MCLA (0-13, -3) rallied to take a 38-37 lead after three quarters of play. Later in the fourth, MCLA led 45-44 after a Hannah Mazzeo layup with 3:50 left to play.

 

From there, the Vikings went on a 9-0 spurt to take control. Irianis Delgado started the run with a layup and Zaiter knocked down a jumper after a defensive stop. The dagger was a 3-point hoop from Kylie Gates to make it 53-45 with just 1:28 left to play. MCLA scored the final five points, but by then the damage was done to give the Vikings the win.

 

Zaiter was 11-24 from the floor for her 25 points. Delgado chipped in with 16 points on 7-14 shooting.

 

MCLA was paced by Drury High graduate Brooke Digennaro's team best 18-point night. Hannah Mazzeo added a double-double effort of 16 points and 11 rebounds in defeat.

 

The Trailblazers are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Worcester State.

 

Men's Basketball

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Salem State erupted for 66 points in the closing half and placed six players in double figures in a 110-80 win.

 

Sean Bryan collected a triple-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists in the win.  Conner Byrne added a double double of 15 points and 13 rebounds. Chris MacDonald added 14 points off the bench for the Vikings (8-7, 4-0)

 

Salem State took command of this one late in the first half. The Vikings led just 32-31 after MCLA's Noah Yearsley connected from long range, however the Vikings would respond with a 12-5 surge to close the half.

 

With 19 minutes to play, MCLA (6-7, 1-1) trailed just 45-43 after another Yearsley triple, but then it was all Vikings. A quick 7-0 burst starting things off as Bryan converted on a drive and Javier Osario drilled a triple to key the spurt. Back-to-back Josiah Green 3-pointers a few minutes later increased the margin to 63-47 forcing an MCLA timeout. The timeout didn't slow down the Vikings though as they outscored MCLA, 10-2, over the next two minutes and pull away.  MCLA never got closer than 20 points the rest of the way.

 

MCLA was led by Drury grad Hayden Bird's game-best 22-point night. Yearsley ended with 20 points on 6-16 shooting, but was 5-11 from deep.  Dylan Morris-Gray returned to action and collected 16 points off the bench for MCLA.

 

The Trailblazers are back in action on Saturday when they head to Worcester State to continue conference play.