THE BASICS 
Lesley University, 55 vs. Salem State, 73

Records: 
Lesley University Lynx (8-13, 3-7 NAC)
Salem State Vikings (11-10, 4-2 MASCAC) 

Location: Lexington, Mass.-Minuteman Gymnasium

Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025

THE LEAD – Despite 11 lead changes, the Lesley University women's basketball came up short on Wednesday evening in non-conference action against Salem State by a score of 73-55.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the opening moments of the first quarter, the Lynx grabbed an early five-point lead (9-4) after Ahidali DeHuelbes (Tucson, Ariz.) made a driving layup. However, the Vikings took their first lead of the night thanks to an Abuk Teng three with 3:57 left in the frame. From then on, both sides continued to trade baskets, and with Lesley down one (14-13) with less than three minutes in the quarter (2:51), Bella Terry (El Cajon, Calif.) gave the squad the lead right back after she hit on a layup which led to a Salem State timeout. 
• Coming out of the break, Salem State retook the lead with four late points and took an 18-14 lead heading into the second. Going into the second, it was more of the same as the first, where sides exchanged baskets early on. After a Leila Chisholm (Santa Barbara, Calif.) three gave the Lynx a two-point advantage (22-20), Salem State's offense had its strongest stretch of the quarter by going on a 7-0 run for a 27-22 lead, which forced a Lesley timeout with 4:05 to go until halftime. 
• After the timeout, the Lynx pulled back within one (29-28) courtesy of a Mariana Richwine (Buckeye, Ariz.) three-pointer with 2:15 left in the half. Despite the one-point lead, the Vikings went back ahead after a Kylie Gates three put the visitors up 31-28. Salem State held firm defensively the rest of the quarter and took that same lead going into halftime. 
• As the third quarter got underway, Lesley once again came within three (34-31) after another DeHuelbes three-pointer. However, as the quarter went on, the Vikings grabbed their first double-digit lead of the contest behind a 9-0 run (43-31). Ernidia Goncalves led the surge of offense scoring six of the nine points. 
• With 2:08 left in the third, Terry broke up the Viking's scoring run after knocking down back-to-back free throws, but the Salem State offense was not deterred as the blue and orange closed out the frame, outscoring Lesley, 7-6 for a 50-39 lead going into the fourth. 
• In the fourth quarter, it was all Salem State. Despite Lesley cutting the deficit to single-digits (52-43) from a Madalynn Biagi (Lincoln, Calif.) jumper, it would be the closest the Lynx got the rest of the quarter. The Vikings grabbed their largest lead of the night (67-48) after a Teng three-pointer capped off a 15-5 stretch with 2:55 remaining and would ultimately secure a 73-55 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Terry led all scorers with 19 points and also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season.
• Lesley's other double-figure scorer was DeHuelbes, who scored 12 points in a 5-10 shooting clip. 
• Biagi helped pace the Lynx offense with six assists on the night. She has now posted five or more assists in seven games this year.
• Salem State saw all five starters finish in double figures, with Jaylen Nieves leading the way with 14 points. 
• Despite the loss, the Lynx held the advantage beyond the arc, shooting 41.2 percent (7-17) compared to Salem State's 31.6 percent (6-19). 
• Wednesday's matchup marked the first between the two schools since 2010 (Nov. 19). 

UP NEXT

• Lesley returns to North Atlantic Conference action on Friday, February 7, when it hosts SUNY Delhi at 5:30 p.m.