Site: Greensboro, N.C. / Hanes Gym

Score: Greensboro 99, Salem 62

Records: Greensboro (11-2, 6-0 USA South) / Salem (1-11, 0-5 USA South)

Next Game: Southern Virginia at Salem | January 10 | Varsity Gym | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 6 p.m.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Five players, including four starters, topped double figures in scoring for Greensboro, who prevailed with a 99-62 victory over Salem at Hanes Gym in USA South Conference basketball action on Saturday, January 7th. The Pride were led by Audrey Jennings, who tallied a game-high 22 points, while Salem received solid outings from Tamsi Echendu (16 points) and Cree Bass (15).

After missing the last three games for Salem, Echendu notched her fifth double-digit scoring performance of the season by hitting 7-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-4 at the charity stripe. Bass capped off her second double-digit outing in as many games by converting 5-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc and both free throw attempts.

Alize Brooks was also a double figure scorer for Salem, delivering 11 points by virtue of a 4-of-7 outing that also included four rebounds and two assists. Collectively, the Spirits were 23-of-59 (39%) from the floor, 5-of-14 (35.7%) from beyond the arc and 11-of-16 (68.8%) at the free throw line.

Salem finished the game by hauling in 36 rebounds (22 defensive), with Dionne Sampson leading the way with eight. Sampson missed her ninth straight double-digit scoring performance by one point, closing with nine.

Greensboro finished off the contest by hitting all 10 free throw attempts in the contest, while converting 41-of-78 (52.6%) from the floor. The Pride knocked down seven 3-pointers, including three from Aliyah Whiteside, who closed with 13 points off the bench. Joining Jennings among double-digit starters were Quadijah Moore (18), Ta'Keria Leggette (12) and Karli Mason (10).

FIRST QUARTER
After a Brooks layup that tied the game at two-all inside the first minute of action, Greensboro scored eight unanswered to establish a 10-2 lead by the 6:07 mark. Echendu halted the drought for Salem briefly with a layup, but The Pride eventually stretched the lead to 26-4 following a layup from Moore. Bass put Salem into double figures with a 3-pointer from Bass, making for a 26-12 contest, but managed just one point down the stretch at Greensboro led 30-13 after one quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
The best offensive quarter of the day for Salem came in the second, where the Spirits tallied 22 points, after a flurry of points resulted in a 7-2 run in the first 2:07 of the frame. Bass trimmed the Greensboro lead to 32-20 on a 3-pointer, following a pass from Cristina Battistini, but The Pride responded with a 14-7 run of its own to grab a 46-29 lead. Brooks drove home a free throw and Sampson knocked down a 3-pointer, making for a 49-33 Greensboro advantage, and The Pride closed out the half on a 7-2 run to lead by 21 at the intermission.

THIRD QUARTER
Greensboro combined solid offense and strong defense in the first 4:57 of the third quarter, stretching its lead to 66-44 over Salem despite three points from Echendu. The Pride defense surrendered just two Salem points after the media timeout, establishing a 76-48 advantage heading into the fourth with a layup from Aijah Palmore inside the final 30 seconds of the frame.

FOURTH QUARTER
Greensboro closed with 23 points in the fourth quarter, while Salem countered with 14, to become the fourth different opponent to score at least 99 points against the Spirits in program history. The last team to score at least 99 points was Pine Manor, who tallied 100 on February 27, 2016. Echendu put the Spirits at 50 points at the 5:53 mark, scoring seven straight points for the Spirits. Alize Munn capped off the game with the final points for Salem, hitting one of two free throws with 35 seconds remaining.

SALEM QUICK NOTES
-After missing the last three games for Salem, Echendu notched her fifth double-digit scoring performance (16 points) of the season by hitting 7-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-4 at the charity stripe.
-Cree Bass capped off her second double-digit outing in as many games by converting 5-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc and both free throw attempts.
-Salem finished the game by hauling in 36 rebounds (22 defensive), with Dionne Sampson leading the way with eight. Sampson missed her ninth straight double-digit scoring performance by one point, closing with nine.
-The Pride are a perfect 9-0 when facing Salem at Hanes Gymnasium on the Greensboro College campus.
-Greensboro has won 16 of 17 head-to-head meetings against Salem since the two teams first collided on January 4, 2008.