Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior Danielle Jenkins (Marlborough, MA/Marlborough) posted 28 points in leading host Salem State College to a 69-66 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the consolation game of the Salem State Tip-Off Tournament. With the win, the Vikings improve to 1-1, while the Engineers fall to 0-2 on the season.

Rensselaer opened the game strong in the first half, taking a 6-0 lead at 17:59 on a jumper by sophomore Hillary McKinley (Quinebaug, CT/Tourtellotte Memorial). RPI continued to hold the lead, but saw the homestanding Vikings take their first lead of the contest (10-8) on a layup and free throw shot by Jenkins at the 13:59 mark.

It was a back-and-forth battle over the next five minutes as neither team achieved a lead more than two points. Down 22-21 with 7:28 remaining, senior Amanda Brophy (Scituate, MA/Milton Academy) pulled the Engineers even and gave the visitors a one-point lead (23-22) at 7:14.

Salem State refused to back down, going on a 13-0 run to grab a 12-point advantage (35-23) with 4:20 remaining. The Engineers cut the deficit to seven (39-32) with 2:08 remaining on a layup by graduate student Ellen High (Plaistow, NH/Timberlane Regional), but Rensselaer found itself heading into half-time down 39-32.

Second half action saw Salem State once again come out strong, going up by 11 (43-32) at 18:31 on buckets by Jackoya Wilkins (Dorchester, MA/Bedford) and Jenkins.

A layup by graduate student Whitney Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) pulled Rensselaer to within 43-41 with 16:33 remaining, and a follow-up bucket by sophomore Nicole Monroe (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) tied things up at 43-all, but the Vikings once again opened up a lead.

RPI junior Allison Conner (Hudson, NY/Hudson) later nailed a three-pointer to make it a one-point deficit for the visitors (63-62) with 4:17 remaining, but Salem State continued to pressure, carried by 10 points in the second half from Jenkins.

In addition to Jenkins, Salem State saw Brianna Wilson (Lowell, MA/Lowell) post eight points.

For Rensselaer, Brophy had a team-best 14 points with eight rebounds. McKinley added 12 points and a game-best 17 rebounds, while Coleman had 13 points and eight boards.

The Engineers return to action December 1, when they travel to Albany to play Albany College of Pharmacy at 7pm. Salem State returns to the court on Tuesday, hosting Clark at 6pm.