Jan. 14, 2010
Box Score
Salem, Mass. - Danielle Jenkins (Marlborough, MA) and Brianna Wilson (Lowell, MA) produced a dominating second half, combining for 23 second period points as the Salem State Lady Vikings fought back from an eight point deficit to defeat the Emmanuel College Saints, 69-55, in a non-conference game Thursday night. Salem State (8-4), which avenged last year's 77-61 setback, has now won five straight. Emmanuel College dropped to 10-4 on the season with the loss.
The Saints used a 10-2 run midway through the opening period to jump out to a 15-7 lead at the 10:23 mark. Abby Brenkach (Germantown, NY) led Emmanuel College with six points during the run, which increased their lead to 20-9 on a free throw by Brenkach with eight minutes remaining. Jakoya Wilkins (Dorchester, MA), who scored a season-high 17 points, led the Lady Vikings with eight points in the period to help Salem State cut the halftime deficit to 29-21.
The Lady Vikings opened the second half with a 12-2 run to grab a 33-31 lead. A basket by Danielle Jenkins (Marlborough, MA), who finished with 15 points, and a three-pointer by Madeleine Park (Blue Hill, ME) sparked Salem State. The Vikings then went ahead on a three-pointer by Amy Barry (Manchester, NH) two and a half minutes into the period.
Brianna Wilson, who had a quiet first half, scored seven of her 14 points in the opening ten minutes of the second frame. Wilson netted consecutive baskets to give Salem State a 42-34 lead with 12:58 remaining. Wilkins layup capped a 29-6 run to give the Lady Vikings their largest lead of the game at 50-35 with 11:00 minutes to play.
Fionna O'Dwyer's (Stamford, CT) layup brought the Saints to within eight at 50-42, but they could not draw any closer as Salem State was able to answer each Emmanuel College basket down the stretch.
Kristin LeBel (Tolland, CT), who had eight first half points was limited to just four in the second, as the Saints shot only 22% (8-36) in the second stanza. Junior point guard Casey Shevlin (Medford, N.Y.) chipped in with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in the effort.
Salem State travels to Westfield State this Saturday to take on the Owls at 1:00 PM. Emmanuel will return to GNAC play, taking on Suffolk University at Regan Gymnasium in a 2pm start.
