WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Shaiajah Dailey and Destiny Timberlake finished with 13 points apiece, while teammate Sabria Joseph contributed 10, as visiting Greensboro emerged with a 78-37 victory over Salem in USA South Conference hoops action at Varsity Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The game served as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness night for Salem, who honored Pride head coach Randy Tuggle for his battle with the disease.
Dailey knocked down 5-of-11 from the floor, including a trio of 3-pointers, while handing out four assists and forcing four steals as Greensboro improved to 13-8 overall and 9-4 in conference action. Timberlake came off the bench to hit 4-of-7 from the field, converting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, to go along with four rebounds. Joseph rounded out double-digit performers for The Pride by virtue of knocking down 3-of-7 from the floor and all four free throw attempts.
Greensboro, which hit 18-of-20 (90%) at the free throw line and 25-of-82 (30.5%) from the floor, capitalized on 30 second-chance points. The Pride had a 62-34 advantage in rebounding, highlighted by 31 offensive rebounds. Katie Lewis, who finished with a team-high eight boards, was one of 10 Greensboro players with at least three rebounds in the contest. Nichelle Jeffries added seven rebounds, including four on the defensive glass.
Salem (0-21, 0-14 USA South) was led in scoring by the combination of Alize Brooks and Aubrey Slaughter, who finished with eight points apiece. Brooks was 3-of-7 from the floor, while Slaughter knocked down 3-of-12 from the floor and 2-of-5 from the charity stripe. Slaughter was also active on the glass with eight rebounds, while Lauren Privette came through with six rebounds and a team-best four blocked shots.
With a 41-16 lead entering the third quarter, Greensboro opened the frame with back-to-back jumpers before Dionne Sampson put the first two points of the quarter on the board for Salem at the 8:05 mark. Brooks would add two free throws and Sampson followed with two of her own as Salem made it a 52-23 contest with 3:25 remaining. Slaughter came through with the final two points of the period as The Pride closed out the final 3:06 of the game on a 6-2 run.
Greensboro extended its lead to 60-27 in the early stages of the fourth, but a series of points from Slaughter and Caroline Deal resulted in the 30th points for the Spirits. The Pride countered with a 9-0 run, capped off by a 3-pointer from Timberlake, before a layup by Brooks came with 3:22. Salem would receive three points down the stretch from Cayla Harris, but The Pride used four points each by D'aja Tyler and Shai Robinson to complete the 78-37 victory.
The Pride streaked out to a 17-2 lead in the first 5:02 of the game, capped off by a Katie Lewis 3-pointer, but four points down the stretch by Privette closed out the opening quarter.
Salem opened the second quarter with a quick bucket by Brooks, trimming the lead to 21-8, but five unanswered points by The Pride pushed the advantage to 21. Sampson put the Spirits into double figures, 28-10, but Greensboro knocked down two 3-pointers as it moved in front 38-14 with just over two minutes remaining. Bowen scored the final bucket of the first half for Salem, who trailed 41-16 at the intermission.
Salem basketball returns to the road on Saturday, Feb. 8, when it heads to Piedmont International for a 2 p.m. game. For more information on Salem basketball check out www.salemspirits.com.
