WINTHROP – The English Bulldogs proved once again they can play with the elite teams in the Northeastern Conference. Much to the young team’s dismay, for the second straight game, they came up a basket or two short.English (8-2) entered the game with a stranglehold on second place in the Large. The team was fresh off a 50-47 defeat at the hands of a 10-1 Swampscott team on Tuesday and the challenge did not get any easier Friday night at Winthrop.The game was close from beginning to end, but the Bulldogs never managed a lead at any point throughout the contest. English was a basket away from a tie or lead on multiple trips down the court in the second half, but were unable to find the bottom of the net in those crucial situations, and the Vikings persevered for a 46-42 victory.With 13.5 seconds remaining, English trailed by four when Jeanette Anderson was fouled and sent to the line. Anderson hit both free throws to make the score 42-40 in Winthrop’s favor. The Bulldogs began playing the foul game as time waned, but the Vikings hit all four of their chances from the charity stripe to seal the win.”This was more a defensive battle than I expected,” said Winthrop coach Peter Grimes. “It was a physical game and we knew we were in for a battle.”These are the games that will help you come tournament time.”Midway through the third quarter, English sophomore Jenicia Duggins (14 points, three assists, two steals and a block) hit her second three of the half and her third of the night to pull her team within one at 24-23. The team strung together three successive defensive stands but five consecutive missed free throws halted the momentum the Bulldogs built, and the Vikings went on a 10-4 run to close the quarter with a 34-28 advantage.”That was a real momentum killer,” said English coach Fred Hogan. “We spend a lot of time in practice on free throws, and the girls know it’s one of our weaknesses. But, I’m very proud of my girls. They worked their tails off.”Our hats are off to a real good team. We showed we could play with them. Maybe we’re a year away.”The Bulldogs started four underclassmen along with junior stand-out Anderson. Anderson played her typical, strong inside game and at times dominated the glass on both ends of the court. The forward pulled down a game-high 16 boards to go along with a team-high 18 points, four steals and three blocks.Anderson’s numbers could have been even better, but she picked up two early fouls before Hogan put her on the bench, only to return in the second quarter and commit a third.”We gambled a bit and put her in with two fouls (in the first half), and it didn’t really pay off,” Hogan said. “But, even when she was on the bench, I think Lihn (Nguyen) and (Olivia) Dupree responded well and rebounded and controlled the boards.”Nguyen, a freshman, grabbed nine boards and Dupree contributed with seven rebounds and two points.Winthrop’s (9-1) Katerina Mallios was the game’s high-scorer with 20, and Courtney Finn chipped in with 11 points and 12 rebounds (seven offensive boards).The victory extended the Viking’s home winning steak to 27 straight games. The team has only two players, seniors Kristen Finn and Nicole Giaquinto, who have lost at the team’s home facility in their high school careers.Prior to the start of the game, the Vikings’ Courtney Finn, a junior, was honored by the home crowd for scoring her 1,000 career point on Thursday during Winthrop’s 55-32 win at Lynn Classical. Coach Fred Hogan also presented Finn with a plaque on behalf of Lynn English in honor and respect of her accomplishment.