Women’s Basketball Charges Through Salem
Salem, Mass.. –Framingham State's Mary Kate O'Day (Berlin, Mass.) scored a game-high 19 points and Tiphani Harris (Revere, Mass.) added a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Rams triumphed 82-46 over Salem State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymnasium. The Rams go to 13-8 and 7-2 in the MASCAC while the Vikings slide to 8-14 and 4-5 in conference.
Harris (Revere, Mass.) and Raegan Mulherin (Baldwinville, Mass.) each scored eight first half points as Framingham State raced out to a 37-17 halftime lead. The Rams scored the first eight points of the game before Kia Fernandes (Wareham, Mass.) broke the string with two free throws. However, Framingham State ended the quarter on a 7-0 run, which was highlighted by five first quarter points from Harris as the Rams exited the opening period with a 19-8 lead. A Harris layup helped extend the advantage to 19 at 28-9 with 5:54 remaining in the second. Lauren Donahue (Attleboro, Mass.) pushed the lead to 22 after a steal by Mulherin late in the period before the Rams settled for a twenty-point lead at intermission. The Rams shot 45.2% (14-31) from the floor and forced 15 first half turnovers, which they converted into 19 points. Donahue led the way with four first half steals for Framingham State. Fernandes topped Salem State with seven first half points and six rebounds as the Vikings managed to shoot just 17.9% (5-28) for the half.
O'Day's second three-pointer of the third quarter kept Framingham State in front 47-26 with 6:03 left which spearheaded a 7-0 spurt as the lead grew to 54-26 late in the third. Mulherin, who had eight points in the quarter, hit a three-pointer with 0:44 seconds left that gave the Rams a 64-31 cushion going onto the fourth.
The lead hovered around thirty points in the fourth quarter, with its largest being 36 points, following an Abbey Battaini (Haverhill, Mass.) layup in the final seconds which made the final 82-46. The Rams ended the game shooting 43.5% (30-69) while dominating in the paint with a 38-16 advantage.
Mulherin added 16 points for the Framingham State which has won four of its past five games.
Fernandes posted her eighth double-double with a 17 points, 12 rebounds and three block effort for the Vikings, who went 26.7% (16-60) from the floor. Norma Waggett (Saugus, Mass.) had nine points for Salem State.
*Release courtesy of Salem State sports info