GREENSBORO, N.C. – Salem senior guard Shenique Pharr, who finished 8-of-16 from the floor and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc came through with a 23-point performance in a 79-56 setback to Greensboro at Hanes Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Pharr, who logged 32 minutes off the bench for the Spirits (0-13, 0-6 USA South), was joined in double figure scoring by Sydney Bowen, who finished with 13 points by virtue of hitting 4-of-12 from the floor. Teammates Lauren Privette, who closed with 10 rebounds (six offensive), and Aubrey Slaughter, who finished with nine rebounds (six defensive) to anchor the middle.
Greensboro (7-3, 4-0 USA South) had 13 players score at least one point in the contest, including Ashley Free, who finished with a team-high 16 points after knocking down 6-of-16 from the floor and 2-of-6 from 3-point range. Destiny Timberlake also topped double digits for The Pride, knocking down 4-of-8 from the field and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. Diajah Hickson came through with a team-best seven rebounds (five defensive), while adding nine points.
Greensboro began the second half by scoring 10 of the first 16 points, assuming a 12-point lead in the process, while The Pride defense turned up its pressure and limited Salem to five points in the frame while making for a 56-36 lead in the process.
Lauren Whitley emerged with six points, while Timberlake and Nichelle Jeffries added five points each, to help Greensboro outscore Salem 23-22 in the fourth quarter. Eight of those 22 points for the Spirits came from Bowen, who finished 3-of-5 from the floor. Despite hitting 7-of-15 (46.7%) from the floor in the fourth, Salem was unable to trim the deficit below 20 points, as Greensboro countered by hitting 9-of-19 (47.4%) from the field and 4-of-9 (44.4%) at the 3-point line.
The Pride capitalized on a 9-of-22 (40.9%) shooting performance in the opening frame and opened up the game on a 14-2 run, capped off by a 3-pointer by Timberlake. Shenique Pharr briefly trimmed the margin to eight, 14-6, but a timely trey by Brooke Kinley extended the lead back to double figures. Pharr knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the final 2:18 of the first to make for a 21-13 Greensboro lead.
A series of buckets by the trio of Slaughter, Privette and Shenique Pharr sliced The Pride lead to six, 25-19, before Greensboro put together a 9-2 run that put the lead at 13 points. Trailing 36-24 with less than a minute in the quarter, Pharr accounted for five points and Alize Brooks scored on a fast break, to make for a 38-31 lead at the intermission.
The Spirits return the hardwoods on Jan. 15 when they travel to Pfeiffer for a 5 p.m. contest with the Falcons. For more information on Salem basketball check out www.salemspirits.com.