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Salem shows it can hang with Lowell

Monday, December, 24 By Alan Siegel
Staff writer

Salem gave undefeated Lowell its best shot in the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament | but for only a little more than a quarter in a 60-43 Red Raiders win.

The Blue Devils, behind senior guard Danielle Stoodley (team-high 15 points) and junior forward Amanda Saab (14 points, 16 rebounds) led 8-7 after a drive down the lane for a basket by sophomore forward Olivia Connors. That came just moments after talented Lowell center Whitney Wilson went down with an ankle injury and left the game for good.

Unfortunately, that seemed to wake up Lowell standout senior guard Ashley Rivera, who was last year's tourney MVP.

Rivera hit a jump shot to give Lowell the lead and then stole the ball and drove in for two more points.

The Blue Devils recovered to gain one more lead, 17-15 early in the second quarter. But Rivera responded again, this time with a three-point play to put Lowell ahead to stay.

Ahead 28-19 at halftime, Lowell pulled away in the second half as Rivera scored nine more points in the third quarter on her way to a game-high 25. She hit six of her final seven shots.

"They're a very good team," said Salem coach Liz Briggs. "They certainly seem to have all the answers and it all revolves around Rivera. She's just so good.

"I don't think we played well at all. We certainly didn't shoot well (14 of 63), but this was a good test for us and shows us what we have to work on."

As for Lowell, head coach Mike Crowley felt his team came out flat and said that Salem is, "A much improved club." But he was pleased with his team's second half and | in what is not good news for future foes | thought that Whitney Wilson's ankle injury was just a mild sprain.

"I think we showed some of our depth tonight, but I think she'll be back for our next game," said Crowley.