Box Score

SALEM, Mass. - Salem State shot 54.2 percent from the field in the second half and used a balanced offensive attack to push past Rensselaer, 64-60, in the championship game of the Salem State Tip-Off Tournament.  The Vikings improve to 2-0 on the early season while the Red Hawks drop to 1-1 overall.

Holding a 33-30 advantage at halftime, RPI saw its narrow lead chipped away as Salem State's Jakoya Wilkins hit a jumper at 16:21 to give the Vikings a 39-38 lead.  SSC led by as many as six (46-40) at the 14:17 mark before Rensselaer pulled back in, tying it 52-52 on a layup by senior forward Tory Lyons (Agawam, MA/Feeding Hills). 

The Red Hawks rode the momentum over the next couple of minutes, pulling ahead by three (59-56) with 4:58 to go, but the Vikings would not go quietly as they evened the score at 59 all with 3:28 on the clock.  Melissa Macchi nailed a layup to push Salem State ahead with 1:36 left and the Vikings secured the victory behind a jumper from Lindsay Watkins with 52 seconds remaining.

Danielle Jenkins led Salem State in scoring, posting 14 points and four rebounds in the win.  Watkins added 13 points while Wilkins had eight points.

For Rensselaer, junior Elizabeth Barker (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) led all game scorers with 21 points and a game-best 10 rebounds.  Senior guard Missy Jackman (Danvers, MA/Danvers) chipped in with 13 points while Lyons and junior Kerry Hayes (Nashua, NH/Nashua) added seven points each.

RPI returns to the court on Tuesday for a contest at Oswego State.  Tip-off against the Lakers is set for 7pm.  Salem State is also back in action on Tuesday when it travels to Babson (5pm).