WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Sydney Bowen finished with 14 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, while Alize Brooks added 11 points and three steals, but it was Jamesha Sanders' 14-point, eight-rebound effort for William Peace that was the difference maker as the Pacers earned the 70-41 victory over Salem in USA South basketball action at Varsity Gym on Wednesday evening.
Bowen knocked down 3-of-12 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers, and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line to cap off her 13th double-digit scoring performance of the season. Brooks was successful on 3-of-8 attempts from the floor and four free throws, while forcing a game-best three steals for the Spirit defense. Aubrey Slaughter came through with eight rebounds and seven points in 24 minutes for Salem, which slipped to 0-23 overall and 0-15 in the USA South.
Sanders was one of 14 Pacers to score at least two points in the contest, finishing 6-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-2 at the charity stripe. She also snagged a team-best eight rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. Mariah Partin narrowly missed double figures with eight points, finishing 4-of-8 from the floor, while the trio of Khadijah Daniels, Eva Holloway and Yamila Emanuel tallied six points apiece.
Leading 34-17 entering the third quarter, William Peace overcame a 3-pointer by Bowen to assume a 26-point lead with a series of buckets by Lauryn Cross and Holloway. Brooks came through with a trey at the 1:40 mark, followed by four points from Bowen, but the Pacers closed out the frame leading 54-29.
Slaughter began fourth quarter scoring with a layup at the 9:45 mark, but William Peace retaliated with a 14-1 run over the next 6:58 to establish a 68-32 lead. The Spirits answered by scoring the nine of the final 11 points of the game, taking advantage of four points down the stretch by Dionne Sampson, to make for the 70-41 final.
Salem opened the game on a 4-0 run, capitalizing on a series of buckets by Lauren Privette and Bowen, before William Peace pieced together a 12-0 rally, highlighted by four points from Khadijah Daniels. Caroline Deal put the sixth point of the game on the board for the Spirits, but a free throw by Pamela Mock resulted in a 13-6 advantage by the Pacers through the first quarter.
Six points from Mariah Partin allowed William Peace to stretch its advantage to 21-6 inside the first four minutes of the second quarter. Bowen countered with five straight points, including a 3-pointer, to put Salem into double figures, 23-11. Facing a 30-11 deficit with just over three minutes remaining, Brooks drove home a jumper for the Spirits and Slaughter added a layup to make for a 19-point margin. Brooks converted the final two points of the frame for Salem, making for a 17-point margin at the intermission.
The Spirits close out the season at Averett on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. For more information on Salem basketball check out www.salemspirits.com.
