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Engineers
Lauren Hayes
Tom Killips

Women's Basketball Joseph Beitz, Salem State sports information

Women's Hoops Powers Past Salem St., 79-67

Engineers advance to Salem State Holiday Championship behind McKinley's double-double

Lauren Hayes
Box Score
SALEM, MA - Hillary McKinley (Quinebaug, CT) scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dominated both offensively and defensively to lead RPI to a 79-67 victory over Salem State Thursday night in the opening round of the Salem State Holiday Classic. The Engineers (6-2) advance to the championship game, Friday night at 5:00 p.m. where they will face Williams College. The Vikings (3-7) will take on Rutgers-Newark in the consolation game at 1 p.m.

RPI jumped out to an early 20-9 lead on the strength of three hoops by Lauren Hayes (Rensselaer, NY). The Vikings responded by scoring the next 10 points, as Erica Batchelder (Stoughton, MA) converted all of her free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, and Amy Barry (Manchester, NH) added her own three. McKinley scored two of the next three hoops, as RPI went on a 9-2 run to regain control. Amanda Lynch (Middle Town, NY) scored two buckets in the final two minutes of the half, and RPI entered the intermission with a 38-29 lead.

Salem State whittled the deficit to six, 44-38, but a three-point play by Hayes and three easy baskets in the paint by McKinley quickly rebuilt the RPI lead to 12, 55-43 with 13 minutes remaining. The Vikings continued to battle, drawing within six, 67-61 on Tara Driscoll's (Swampscott, MA) three with four minutes remaining, but the Engineers went 10-14 from the free throw line down the stretch to preserve the victory.

McKinley was dominant inside, and Salem State had no answer for the 6-4 senior. She was 10-14 from the field - all from inside the paint - and added 5 blocked shots. Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, MA) scored 15 points, including 9-10 from the line, while Nicole Monroe (Syracuse, NY) and Jen Rock (Byfield, MA) added 10 points apiece.

Salem State was led by Batchelder, who had a team-high 16 points, including 5-5 from the free throw line. Driscoll connected on three three-pointers for nine points, while Breanna Comeau (Amesbury, MA) led the Vikings on the boards with 7 rebounds.

RPI shot 49% from the field, while the Vikings connected on just 34.4% of their field goal attempts. The Engineers held a slight advantage on the boards, outrebounding SSU 40-36.

Williams College defeated Rutgers-Newark 66-43 in the opening game.
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