Site:
Roanoke, Va. / Hollins 

Score:
Salem 69, Trinity (D.C.) 62

Records:
Salem (2-0) / Trinity (D.C.) (0-5)

Next Game:
Salem vs. Agnes Scott | All-Women's Tip-Off Tournament | Hollins | Roanoke, Va. | 2 p.m.

ROANOKE, Va. — Salem senior Alize Munn emerged with 17 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Spirits close out a 69-62 victory over Trinity (D.C.) as the 2023-24 unit equaled the 2009-10 team as the only team to ever open a season 2-0.

Munn knocked down 6-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the charity stripe, to reach double figures for the second time in as many contests. She also climbed the glass for a game-high 14 rebounds, pulling down eight on the defensive glass. Teammate Dionne Sampson was also a key contributor for the starting lineup with 16 points, which came by virtue of hitting 6-of-17 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

Cree Bass came off the bench to finish with 14 points for Salem, delivering a pair of 3-pointers, while finishing a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Like Munn, Lily Gorum was active on the glass with seven rebounds, including four on the defensive end, while Sampson came through with five offensive boards.

First Quarter
Trinity grabbed the early lead, 10-4, but a conversion by Sampson followed by a layup from Ti'erra Lee quickly trimmed the margin to two with 2:45 left in the frame. Nykerah Engle evened the score at 10, but Trinity used a layup from Taryn Yancey to lead 16-14 at the close of the first quarter.

Second Quarter
Bass drove home a 3-pointer inside the first minute of second to give Salem its first lead of the game, 17-16, which quickly moved to six as the Spirits' senior knocked down her second long distance shot of the quarter. At the midway point, Munn converted a pass from Gorum to give Salem a 27-19 advantage, which moved into double figures with a pair of free throws by Sampson. The Spirits weathered a run by Trinity, which tied the game at 29 with 2:28 left. After surrendering the lead, 34-33, inside the final minute of the half, Munn and Triana Smallwood combined for the final four points as Salem took a 37-34 lead into the intermission.

Third Quarter
Engle broke a scoreless third with a layup at the 8:15 mark as Salem extended its lead to 39-34. Munn followed with four points of her own, giving the Spirits a 45-35 advantage. The senior backcourt of Munn and Bass poured in six points, stretching the margin to 51-35 with 2:25 remaining. Cristina Battistini closed out third quarter scoring with a pair of free throws as the Spirits lead 57-39 heading into the final quarter.

Fourth Quarter
Trinity's defense shut down Salem's offense in the first five minutes of the fourth and as a result its offense put together a 12-0 run that trimmed the Spirits' lead to eight, 57-49. Sampson broke the Salem scoring drought with a jumper at the 4:47 mark, but Trinity continued to push for the lead. After a pair of free throws by Brenae Ford trimmed the margin to three, 63-60, with 1:32 remaining in regulation the Spirits responded with a layup from Ja'Frye Barr. Salem allowed just two points down the stretch, while Bass and Sampson came through with two made free throws each, giving the Spirits a seven-point win.