Bowen Emerges With 18 in Setback to Meredith

Bowen Emerges With 18 in Setback to Meredith

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Kate Perko (20 points, 13 rebounds) and Zaina Hook (11 points, 10 assists) each recorded a double-double as Meredith came away with a 71-46 victory over Salem at Varsity Gym on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Perko, who finished 8-of-22 from the floor and was 4-of-4 at the charity stripe, also hauled in eight offensive rebounds and led the way for a Meredith (5-8, 1-3 USA South) unit that was 27-of-60 (45%) from the field on the afternoon. Hook wrapped up the game by converting all three field goal attempts, along with knocking down 5-of-6 at the free throw line, while handing out 10 of the 19 Avenging Angel assists.

The duo was joined in double figures by the combination of Kimberly Schuh (15 points) and Madison Gladwell (10). Teammate Daia Dawkins narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds and eight points. Meredith controlled the glass (45-30), snagging 14 offensive rebounds in the process.

Salem (0-11, 0-4 USA South) was led offensively by the tandem of Sydney Bowen (18 points) and Dionne Sampson (13). Bowen, who was 6-of-14 from the floor and 2-of-6 from 3-point range, reached double figures for the eighth time this season. Sampson posted her fourth double-figure game of the slate by knocking down 5-of-8 from the floor and 2-of-3 at the charity stripe.

Aubrey Slaughter hauled in four rebounds, including four on the defensive glass, while the trio of Alize Brooks, Lauren Privette and Cayla Harris came through with four each. Salem's defensive effort included four steals each by Brooks and Sampson.

Facing a 10-point deficit at the intermission, Salem cut the lead to 35-27 early in the third quarter with a series of 3-pointers by Bowen and Shenell Pharr. However, Meredith answered with a 9-0 run, capped off by a layup from Gladwell, to assume the 19-point advantage.

Free throws by Bowen briefly halted the run, as Meredith eventually stretched the lead to 50-29 on a layup by Perko. Salem capitalized on free throws by Shenique Pharr along with layups by Privette and Sampson, making for a 50-35 contest, but the Avenging Angels closed out the half on an 8-4 run.

Salem managed to get the Meredith lead under 20 points, 65-46, with four points from Brooks and a 3-pointer by Sampson at the 6:28 mark of the fourth. The Avenging Angels scored the final six points of game to complete their fifth win of the season.

The Spirits opened the game on a 7-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer off the hand of Bowen, before Meredith scored seven unanswered points to draw even. Five of the points for the Avenging Angels' offense came from Schuh, who knotted the game at seven with a free three at the 1:36 mark. Bowen came through with an old-fashioned 3-point play, converting a free throw after a foul by Schuh, but Gladwell provided Meredith with the one-point advantage with a trey with seven seconds left.

The Avenging Angels stretched their lead to six, 16-10, after a timely trey by Dawkins. Shenell Pharr trimmed the margin to four, 18-14, with 5:11 remaining in the second. However, Meredith answered with a 9-2 run, which included four points by Gladwell and Perko, as the Avenging Angels took a 31-21 lead into the intermission.

Salem completes the weekend doubleheader by hosting Mary Baldwin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5 at Varsity Gym.