Women’s Basketball Outlasted by Salem State University, 61-54

SALEM, Mass. – Elms College junior forward Denisha Parks (Fall River, Mass.) tied for the game-high in points with 25 and was named to the all-tournament team, but Salem State University used a 25-point effort from Rachael Carter (Merrimack, N.H.) and the Vikings hit 5 of 6 from the free throw line down the stretch to seal a 61-54 victory in Monday afternoon's consolation women's basketball game at the Salem State Holiday Tournament.

With the loss, Elms moves to 4-5 on the season, while Salem State improves to 5-7 overall.

Ashley White (Salem, Mass.) sparked an early 7-0 run for the Vikings in the first half with a trey as Salem State held Elms scoreless over the first four minutes of the contest.

Parks scored 15 of her 25 points and grabbed six rebounds in the first stanza to help the Blazers take their first lead of the contest at 25-23 with 3:15 to play and closed out the first period clinging to a 29-28 lead.

Elms came out firing from beyond the arc to start the second stanza led by a 3 for 3 showing from junior forward Gianna Youngblood (East Freetown, Mass.). The Vikings kept the game within reach and Malissa Saad (Worcester, Mass.) converted a layup and free throw to tie the game at 46-46 with 10:32 to play.

Salem State then scored nine of the next 13 points stake a 55-50 lead with 1:30 left in the contest. Parks hit a late jumper to bring the Blazers to within two at 56-54, but were forced to foul as time wound down. The Vikings went 5 of 6 from the free throw line highlighted by four makes by Carter to secure the 61-54 win.

Youngblood finished with 22 points highlighted by a 5 for 9 display from three-point range and pulled down 10 rebounds. Parks led all players with 12 boards in addition to her 25 points, while freshman guard Marissa Merrill (Meredith, N.H.) dished out six helpers and grabbed 11 rebounds in the losing effort for Elms. Parks also had four assists and five steals in the contest.

Saad finished with nine points and White totaled eight points behind Carter's 25-point output to lead Salem State in victory. Carter led the Vikings on the glass with a team-high nine rebounds, while White and Ginny Fleming (Peabody, Mass.) hauled in seven rebounds each in the win.

Elms returns to non-league action at the University of St. Joseph (Conn.) on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.