WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Tyzarea Alexander finished with a team-best 10 points and was one of 10 players to score at least two points for Methodist, who closed out a 58-47 win over Salem in USA South Conference basketball action on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Varsity Gym.
Alexander, who finished 4-of-9 from the floor, also came away with nine rebounds (seven defensive) for a Monarch unit that wrapped up the game hitting 23-of-63 (36.5%) from the field. Methodist (3-16, 2-9 USA South) had three players finish with eight points in the game, including Kadie Snipes, Katlin Kendrick and Trinity Ross.
Salem (0-18, 0-11 USA South) was led in scoring by Alize Brooks, who posted a game-high 12 points to go along with a steal. Teammate Aubrey Slaughter climbed the glass for a game-high 11 rebounds, pulling down seven on the defensive end. Cayla Harris was also a bright spot for the Salem offense with eight points, which came by virtue of hitting 4-of-6 from the floor. The Spirits capped off their final game in January by hitting 19-of-59 (32.2%) from the field.
Facing a 36-18 deficit entering the third quarter, Salem was unable to find its offensive rhythm in the frame as the Monarchs used a 9-3 run to move in front by 24. Methodist would surrender just five points over the course of the third and take a 48-23 lead into the final frame.
Salem answered with a 10-6 run in the first 5:04 of the fourth behind buckets from the combination of Harris, Dionne Sampson, Shenique Pharr and Slaughter, making for a 54-33 contest. Harris drove past the Monarch defense for a series of layups and Brooks drained a long distance 3-pointer, cutting the margin to 55-40 with 2:17 left. Lauren Privette converted two free throws, trimming the Methodist lead to 13, but it was not enough as the Monarchs closed out their third win of the season.
Methodist bolted out to a 9-2 run in the first, taking advantage of seven unanswered points, before a jumper by Slaughter at the 3:26 mark resulted in the second field goal for the Spirits. The Monarchs scored five unanswered points over the next 2:58 before a series of Salem buckets by Shenique Pharr and Sydney Bowen sliced the margin to 16-8 through one quarter.
The Monarchs started the second quarter in similar fashion to the first, extending the lead to 29-8 before Brooks drove home a long range 3-pointer to put Salem into double figures. Bowen converted a free throw and Brooks knifed past the Methodist defense, cutting the lead to 30-14 with 3:36 left. Salem would capitalize on conversions by Sampson and Bowen, making for a 32-18 contest, but the Monarchs would head into the intermission with an 18-point advantage.
The Spirits return to the road on Feb. 1 when they head to Raleigh, N.C., to clash with William Peace in a USA South Conference contest at 2 p.m. The road trip will also include a meeting with N.C. Wesleyan in Rocky Mount, N.C., on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. For more information on Salem basketball check out www.salemspirits.com.