WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Salem's Shenique Pharr finished with 12 points and eight rebounds while teammate Lauren Privette contributed 11 points and six rebounds, but it was the combination of four Averett starters in double figures that made the difference as the Cougars emerged with a 77-42 victory over Salem in USA South basketball action on Saturday, Jan. 25 at Varsity Gym.

Pharr capped off the game by hitting 3-of-12 from the floor and all six free throw attempts to lead the way for the Salem (0-17, 0-10 USA South) in scoring. She was one of three Spirits with at least six rebounds, pulling down four of her eight boards on the offensive glass. Privette knocked down 5-of-9 from the field and picked up six rebounds, including four defensive.

Aubrey Slaughter narrowly missed her fourth double-double outing of the slate, closing with nine points and nine rebounds. Slaughter finished 3-of-11 from the floor in the contest, while hitting 3-of-6 at the charity stripe. Seven of her nine rebounds came on the offensive end for Salem, which establishes a single-game season-high in offensive rebounds for a Spirit this season.

Averett, which improved to 12-6 overall and 6-3 in USA South play, finished the game hitting 32-of-68 (47.1%) from the floor and 9-of-17 (52.9%) at the free throw line. Brooke Carthon, who tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds (nine defensive), and Courtney Scott (15 points) led the Cougars in scoring. Averett also received a pair of 10-point efforts from the duo of Genesis Weiters and Ravyn Johnson. Johnson was also active on the boards for the Cougars with nine rebounds.

The Cougars completed their 12th win of the season by hitting 10-of-22 (45%) from the floor in the fourth quarter. Averett limited Salem to just four points over the first 4:55 of the fourth while stretching its lead to 66-33 on a Weiters layup. Pharr singlehandedly scored the next four points for Salem, while Slaughter added a pair of jumpers of her own, but Averett would not allow the lead to get under 30 in the win.

Four points by Pharr and two from Privette were not enough to offset the Averett tandem of Carthon and Genesis Weiters, as the Cougars forged in front 52-28 at the 3:16 mark of the third. Alize Brooks came through with the final two points of the quarter for Salem, who trailed 56-30 after a jumper by the Cougars' Courtney Hunt.

Averett established its offense early in the contest, jumping out to a 10-2 lead in the first 4:43 of the game. The Spirits answered with a jumper by Privette and a free throw from Slaughter, making for a 16-5 contest after the opening quarter.

Privette continued to be a sparkplug for the Salem offense in the second, scoring four of the first six points as the Spirits cut the lead to 20-11 at the 8:09 mark. Averett countered with a 9-2 run, highlighted by five straight points from Scott, as it built a 29-13 lead with just under five minutes remaining. Sydney Bowen briefly halted the run with a jumper, but the Cougars eventually established a 36-17 lead. Salem received points down the stretch by Slaughter and Dionne Sampson to make for a 36-20 lead at the break.

The Spirits return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 28, when they host Methodist at 7 p.m. For more information on Salem basketball check out www.salemspirits.com.