Site: Virginia Beach, Va. / TowneBank Arena
Score: Virginia Wesleyan 73, Salem 50
Records: Virginia Wesleyan (2-2) / Salem (1-2)
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Salem's Tamsi Echendu continued her solid play on the season, delivering her first double-double (11 points / 10 rebounds) in 2022-23, but it was the Virginia Wesleyan trio of Adaje Williams (17), Natalia Collier (12) and Jada Norman (10) that guided the Marlins to a 73-50 victory on Saturday afternoon in Virginia Beach, Va.
Echendu was joined in double-digit scoring by Dionne Sampson, who scored 11 points by virtue of hitting 3-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-4 at the free throw line. Echendu's performance came after she knocked down 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-6 at the free throw line. Echendu came through with five offensive and five defensive boards to led the Spirits on the glass.
The Marlins received 53 of their 73 total points from their starting lineup and closed off the game by hitting 24-of-63 (38.1%) from the floor and converted 21-of-31 at the free throw line.
FIRST QUARTER
Sampson gave Salem the early lead, 5-2, at the 7:23 mark of the frame following a pass from Alize Brooks. The Marlins eventually evened the contest at seven, following a free throw by Collier, and scored the next six straight points of the half. Sampson knocked down two free throws and Alize Brooks added a free throw of her own to make for a 13-10 margin after the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
The Marlins took advantage of a 40 percent shooting performance in the second quarter and outscored Salem 24-11 in the process. Trailing 16-12 after a Jada Norman 3-point conversion, Munn scored three points for the Spirits to trim the lead to one, before a 13-0 run stretched the Virginia Wesleyan lead to 29-15. Echendu scored two free throws, halting the drought, but the Marlins closed out the half on an 8-4 run to make for a 37-21 advantage.
THIRD QUARTER
Virginia Wesleyan had its second straight 20-point quarter, 23-17, in the third as the Marlins built a 60-38 advantage. The Marlins pushed their lead to 20, 41-21, after a jump shot by Sarah Ellis at the 8:14 mark. Echendu and Minnie Griffin, making her first collegiate appearance, teamed up to trim the margin to 42-27. Unable to pull the deficit to under 12, Salem entered the fourth quarter facing a 22-point deficit.
FOURTH QUARTER
Salem capped off the fourth quarter by hitting 33.3 percent from the field in the fourth quarter and held the Marlins to just 13 points in the process. Sampson tallied the first four points of the frame for the Spirits before Echendu a pair of her own to make for a 71-46 score. Munn accounted for the final four points of the game for the Spirits, who slipped to 1-2 on the season.