Worcester, MA --- Senior Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) registered a double-double with a game-high 24 points to go along with 15 rebounds to help lead Worcester State past Salem State, 65-58, in MASCAC women's basketball action this evening from the Lancer Gymnasium.

With the win the Lancers tilt their record over .500 to 10-9 and remain the only unbeaten team in conference play as they improve to 6-0 in the MASCAC.

This marks the first time in program history that Worcester State has gone 6-0 through the first half of their MASCAC schedule since squads in the conference started playing a round-robin schedule during the 1983-84 season. 

Salem State falls to 8-11 overall and 1-5 in the conference with the loss.

WSU was also paced by junior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) who added 19 second-half points, six boards, four swipes and three assists.  

The Vikings were led offensively by third-year Ginny Fleming (Peabody, MA) who collected a team-high 14 points and added five caroms while classmate Ashley White (Salem, MA) scored 11 points and dished out five assists.

Freshman Valerie Smith (Springfield, MA/Central) also registered a 10-point and eight rebound effort for the visitors.

With the score tied at 20-20 with just over two minutes gone in the second half, Salem State went on a 13-3 run and led 33-23 at the 14:45 mark.

Worcester State came right back and embarked on a 12-2 run of their own over the next three minutes of action on the back end of consecutive three point jumpers by O'Keefe to tie the score at 32-32 with 11:41 remaining.

Salem State maintained their distance, but held no more than a three-point cushion for the next four minutes of play. But the Lancers used a pair of buckets from the line by senior Kara Rogers (Lowell, MA) and sophomoreMeghan Keohane (Mansfield, MA) hit a jumper to give WSU a 48-47 advantage.

The crowd was then treated to an entertaining stretch of four lead changes and two ties before Burns and sophomore Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) helped the Lancers go on a 6-0 run for the 54-49 edge with 4:16 left.  

The Vikings answered back 12 ticks later as second-year Rachel Carter (Merrimack, NH) connected from behind the arc and senior Bridgett Dullea (Peabody, MA) canned the front end of a bonus try to get within one point (54-53). 

However, the visitors had no answer for Burns who converted a traditional three-point play with 3:02 remaining and a jumper with 1:31 left for the 61-55 score.  

Salem State freshman Rachel Ledbetter (Dracut, MA) was able to cut the deficit in half by draining a trey with 1:17 left to play, but the Blue and Gold converted all four of their free throw attempts in the final minute to seal up the victory.

White netted the first five points of the game as the Vikings jumped out to an early 7-0 advantage at the 14:15 mark.

O'Keefe then netted six straight points to give the Lancers their only lead of the first half at 8-7 with 11:42 remaining in the stanza.

Over the last 11 minutes of the half the teams combined for 17 turnovers and only nine field goals as Salem State went into the intermission with the 20-16 advantage.

O'Keefe, who finished with her 12th double-double of the season and fourth straight, led all scorers at the half with 12 points. Salem State also netted 13 of their 20 points via the fast break.

Both teams shot well from the field with Salem State converting 40 percent (22-for-55) and Worcester State hit 39 percent (23-for-59) – including a 63 percent clip in the second half (17-for-27).

The Blue and Gold led in rebounds (39-31), points off turnovers (19-14), second chance points (12-6), and bench points (12-7).

Each squad registered 30 points in the paint while the Vikings led in fast break points (24-9).

MASCAC play continues Saturday for both teams as Worcester State travels to Framingham State for a 3:30 PM tip and Salem State heads to Westfield State for 1 PM affair.

Story by John Hanna – Sports Information Graduate Assistant