Site: Winston-Salem, N.C. / Varsity Gym
Score: N.C. Wesleyan 77, Salem 48
Records: N.C. Wesleyan (7-4, 3-1 USA South) / Salem (1-10, 0-4 USA South)
Next Game: Salem at Greensboro | January 7 | Hanes Gym | Greensboro, N.C. | 4 p.m.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — N.C. Wesleyan received double-digit scoring efforts from the trio of Kaniya Cromartie (19), Nadia Simmons (16) and Kayrisma Harrison (14), while holding off a pair of 14-point performances by Salem's Cree Bass and Dionne Sampson to claim a 77-48 victory at Varsity Gym in USA South Conference action Wednesday evening in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Bass reached double figures for the first time since scoring 25 in the season-opener against Warren Wilson, hitting 5-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-7 from beyond the arc. Sampson converted 3-of-19 from the field along with 7-of-9 at the free throw line, extending her double-digit scoring streak to seven games.
Alize Brooks narrowly missed double figures, emerging with eight points after finishing 4-of-10 from the floor. Cristina Battistini capped off the game with six rebounds, a team-high for Salem, snagging four on the defensive glass.
One of the biggest differences in the victory for N.C. Wesleyan came on the glass, where they finished with a 71-26 advantage. The Battling Bishops had a 32-7 edge in offensive rebounds, while grabbing 39 on the defensive glass.
FIRST QUARTER
N.C. Wesleyan established a 24-4 lead at the close of the opening frame, knocking down 11-of-28 (39.3%) from the floor. The Battling Bishops established a 10-0 lead in the first 3:12 of the contest, but Alize Brooks put Salem on the board at the 6:26 mark. After a pair of Cree Bass free throws trimmed the deficit to 10, 14-4, N.C. Wesleyan closed out the frame on a 10-0 run.
SECOND QUARTER
Salem settled into more of an offensive rhythm in the second, hitting 6-of-14 (42.9%) from the field, as it put up 13 points in the frame. The two teams scored six points each to open the second, including Brooks' layup that put Salem into double figures, 30-10, but the Battling Bishops answered with six straight. Savanah Atkins drove home a jumper to make for a 40-15 score, with each team hitting one bucket down the stretch to make for a 42-17 difference at the break.
THIRD QUARTER
The Spirits put together their best offensive quarter of the game in the third, finishing with a 20-15 advantage. Bass led the way with eight points, finishing 3-of-4 from the floor and a perfect 2-of-2 from 3-point range. Salem was 9-of-15 (60%) from the floor in the quarter, draining both 3-pointers in the process. Bass pulled the margin under two, 46-27, with a 3-pointer at the 6:37 mark of the frame. N.C. Wesleyan countered by scoring eight of the next 11 points for a 54-31 lead.
FOURTH QUARTER
N.C. Wesleyan capped off the game with a 20-11 scoring margin in the fourth after six players scored at least one bucket. The Battling Bishops converted 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the floor and finished with a 17-3 advantage in rebounds. Sampson was the primary source of offense for Salem in the final quarter, scoring nine points after hitting 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
SALEM QUICK NOTES
-Cree Bass reached double figures for the first time since scoring 25 in the season-opener against Warren Wilson, hitting 5-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-7 from beyond the arc.
-Dionne Sampson converted 3-of-19 from the field along with 7-of-9 at the free throw line, extending her double-digit scoring streak to seven games.
-Cristina Battistini capped off the game with six rebounds, a team-high for Salem, snagging four on the defensive glass.
-The 71 total rebounds by the Battling Bishops marks the second-most by an opponent in program history. N.C. Wesleyan grabbed 73 rebounds against Salem on January 27, 2019, the most by a Salem opponent.