Salem State’s Last Second Basket Downs Women’s Basketball
Framingham, Mass - Danielle Jenkins' (Marlborough, Mass.) floater with 13.6 seconds remaining gave Salem State a dramatic 58-57 victory over host Framingham State in a MASCAC women's basketball contest on Tuesday evening. With the result, Salem State (16-6) improves to 7-2 in conference play, a game behind league-leader Bridgewater State. Framingham State sees its overall record even at 10-10 while dipping to 4-6 in MASCAC play.
After Framingham State's Toya Chester (Leominster, Mass.) drained a pair of technical free throws to give the Rams a 57-56 advantage with 17.2 seconds left, the Vikings, inbounding the ball underneath their own offensive basket, used a perfectly executed inbounds play where Jakoya Wilkins (Dorchester, Mass.) found Jenkins in open space and the senior connected on what proved to be the winning basket. The Rams would have one last try for the win but their 12-foot jumper at the buzzer rattled out and preserved the SSC road victory.
Jenkins, a returning All-MASCAC first team selection, was clutch down the stretch for Lady Vikings. The senior scored all seven of Salem's points in the last 1:51 of the contest and ended with game-highs of 20 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks. Amy Berry (Manchester, N.H.) and Whitney Watson (Lowell, Mass.) each chipped in with eight points for the visitors, while Wilkins led all players with nine assists on the night, including three in the final two minutes.
Chester, Framingham State's lone senior, played inspired basketball in her last regular season home game. The forward paced the Rams with 16 points and 11 rebounds en route to posting her seventh double-double of the year. Jill Johnson (Mansfield, Mass.) tossed in 12 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, while Nicole McConaghy (Medford, Mass.) added nine and Nicole Meyer (North Attleboro, Mass.) registered eight.
Buoyed by Chester's 11 boards and eight each from McConaghy and Kia Minor (Oak Bluffs, Mass.), Framingham State turned a 50-40 edge on the glass into a 19-11 advantage in second chance points.
Both teams return to action on Saturday with MASCAC road games. Framingham State heads to North Adams to face MCLA at 2 p.m. while Salem State ventures to Fitchburg for a 1 p.m. contest.