Salem, Mass.--Sophomore guard Jordyn Gauvin (Fall River, MA) scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds to lead the Rhode Island College women's basketball team a 50-44 victory at Salem State in a non-conference contest to open the 2017-18 season on Wednesday evening. The win was the first collegiate victory for Rhode Island College's first-year Head Coach Jenna Cosgrove. 

THE BASICS

Rhode Island College 50, Salem State 44

Rhode Island College (1-0)

Salem State (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• RIC senior guard Amber DeCristofaro (Smithfield, RI) tallied seven points to go along with three rebounds and two assists.

• Senior guard Jessa Rubera (Newton, MA) notched seven points and swiped six steals, while sophomore forward Omela Livramento (Pawtucket, RI) chipped in with six points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

• Junior forward Kia Fernandes (Wareham, MA) led the way for Salem State with 13 points and five rebounds, while senior guard Norma Waggett (Saugus, MA) added nine points and a team-best five boards in the loss for the Vikings.

• Salem State led, 14-7, late in the first quarter before a run from RIC, which included three-pointers from Gauvin and Rubera, tied the game, 14-14, late in the frame.

• The Vikings led, 24-18, with 6:31 left in the first half. RIC closed out the stanza on an 8-1 run to take a 26-25 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.

• RIC pushed its lead to double-digits when a three-pointer from Rubera made the score, 41-31, with 8:22 left in the contest.

• Salem State chipped away at the advantage and closed the gap to just two points on a three-pointer from Waggett, 46-44, with just 1:15 remaining. That would be as close as the Viking would get, however, as the Anchorwomen made four free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• RIC shot 29.1 percent (16-of-55) from the field, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from the three-point line and 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from the free throw line.

• Salem State shot 30.2 percent (16-of-53) from the field, 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from the three-point line and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the free throw line.

• RIC outrebounded Salem State by a 48-36 margin and forced Vikings into 22 turnovers.

WHAT'S NEXT

• In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will face Elms in opening round action of the Gordon Invitational Tournament on Friday, Nov. 17 (5 p.m.).