SALEM, Mass. – In the opening game of the Salem State University Tip Off Tournament, the MIT women's basketball team fell to the host Vikings, 66-55, on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Maya Ramachandran (Fremont, Calif.) paced the Engineers (0-1) with 19 rebounds, 14 points, eight blocks, and four steals. MIT continues tournament play tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. against either Western Connecticut State University or Bates College.

Salem State quickly established an 8-2 lead which grew to 19-6 after eight minutes elapsed. A jumper by sophomore Alexxis Isaac (San Antonio, Texas) ignited a 14-2 run which brought the Engineers within one (21-20) at the 4:48 mark. After an exchange of baskets, the Vikings converted a three-point play to gain some breathing room. Late shots by freshman Sabrina Drammis (Hilton Head, S.C.) and sophomore Mari Kordell (Ijamsville, Md.) narrowed the gap to two on two occasions but Salem State drained a buzzer beater to enter halftime ahead, 33-29.

The Cardinal and Gray stayed within striking distance in the second stanza, cutting its deficit to two (40-38) on Ramachandran's basket with 13:10 on the clock. The Vikings responded with a 15-2 run during the next six minutes which put the game out of reach for the visitors.

Kordell totaled 11 points and five assists while Isaac finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Drammis posted six points, six boards, and two steals as freshman Durva Bhandare (North Brunswick, N.J.) contributed seven points and four rebounds.