Spirits Return Home to Face Randolph on Tuesday

Spirits Return Home to Face Randolph on Tuesday

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem basketball team makes its final appearance at Varsity Gym in November on Tuesday when the Spirits host Randolph at 6 p.m. It marks the fourth home game of the 2019-20 season for Salem, who remains in search of its first win after a 100-49 setback to Clinton, in Rock Hill, S.C., on Saturday afternoon.

In the three home games for the Spirits, Alize Brooks leads the way with 46 points, after hitting 17-of-45 (37.8%) from the floor and 6-of-16 (37.5%) from beyond the arc. Teammates Sydney Bowen (27 points) and Dionne Sampson (26) have also been integral parts of the Salem offense in the early season.

Lauren Privette has provided Salem with a presence on the glass with 34 rebounds, pulling down 11 offensive and 23 defensive along the way. Aubrey Slaughter has also made an impact with 26 rebounds, including 20 defensive and six on offense.

In the last game at Varsity Gym, Johnson & Wales capitalized on a 21-point, 20-rebound performance by Ineesha Hankerson to come away with a hard-fought 69-58 victory over Salem on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The Spirits offense was led by the backcourt duo of Alize Brooks and Dionne Sampson, who combined for 35 points and five steals.

Brooks led all Salem scorers with 18 points, hitting 7-of-24 from the floor and 2-of-6 from the free throw line. She knocked down a pair of long range 3-pointers, while grabbing five rebounds and handing out two assists. Sampson established her single-game season high for the Spirits, who slipped to 0-3 on the season, by hitting 7-of-13 from the floor along with a pair of 3-pointers.

Randolph comes into the game with a 1-3 mark, claiming a 47-44 win at Methodist on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The Wildcats dropped a pair of games since that point to both College of Mount Saint Vincent (69-50) and Roanoke (64-39).

The Wildcats are led individually by the combination of Yanessa Cabrera (26 points), Kalyn Banks (24) and Lanaysia Gonzalez (24). Gonzalez has hit the most field goals (12) for Randolph this season, however Cabrera has come through with five free throws, which tops the team.

On the glass, Alyssa Morroni leads the way for the Wildcats with 25 rebounds, including 16 defensive and nine offensive boards. Both Gonzalez (23 rebounds) and Banks (22) are also active on the glass for Randolph, which has 166 total rebounds as a team this season.

For more information on Salem basketball check out www.salemspirits.com.