Women’s Basketball Surges Past Salem State, 77-61

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's basketball team outscored Salem State by 20 points in the second half to run away with a 77-61 victory over the Vikings on Saturday afternoon at MacDonald Gymnasium.

Trailing 32-28 at the half, the Gulls' offense found its rhythm in the third quarter shooting a game-high 50-percent (12-24 FG) from the field to take a commanding 53-42 lead and never looked back.

Salem State threatened midway through the fourth quarter, cutting its deficit down to six (58-52) with 6:16 to play, but Endicott responded with an 8-0 run (66-52, 4:12) to stymie any potential comeback bid from the Vikings.

Individually, Sarah Dempsey (Windham, N.H.) highlighted the Gulls with 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds (third career double-double).

Tara Laugeni (Woodbridge, Conn.) and Emily St. Thomas (Sterling, Mass.) also put together stellar performances tying for the team-high in points with 18 each (career-high for St. Thomas).

Meanwhile, Olivia Duncan (Essex Junction, Vt.) rounded out the list of outstanding performances for Endicott with six points, six rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists (tied fourth all-time).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott is 4-1 in its last five games (3-1 in December).
• The Gulls have won back-to-back games against Salem State (60-46, 1/30/2020).
• Dempsey scored 13 of her 16 points in the second half.
• Laugeni and St. Thomas both had 10 in the final stanza.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (4-4) travels to Babson on Thursday, December 30 at 3 PM. Salem State (2-9) hosts Wheaton on Thursday, December 30 at 5 PM. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - Chris Lyons '22)