Site:
Raleigh, N.C. / Weatherspoon Athletic Center

Score:
Salem 65, Meredith 53

Records:
Salem (4-0, 1-0 USA South) / Meredith (0-3, 0-1 USA South)

Next Game:
Salem vs. Bob Jones | Winston-Salem, N.C. | Varsity Gym | 6 p.m.

RALEIGH, N.C. — For the first time in six years the Salem basketball team opened its USA South Conference schedule with a victory and coincidentally extended the program's best start to open a season to 4-0. The 65-53 triumph on Tuesday evening came at league rival Meredith, the same program that the Spirits defeated on November 26, 2017, when Salem last started USA South Conference play 1-0 in the 2017-18 campaign.

Fifth-year senior guard Dionne Sampson led the way for the Salem offense with a game-high 17 points, while Cree Bass poured in 11 points. Sampson was 6-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-7 at the charity stripe, while Bass came through with three field goals, including two from 3-point range, along with three free throws. Aliyah Corpening put together a solid outing for Salem with eight points, converting four at the charity stripe.

Ti'Erra Lee anchored the Salem post game with nine rebounds, grabbing six defensive boards, while adding seven points after hitting 3-of-6 from the floor. Corpening and Nykerah Engle were also active on the glass with five rebounds apiece. Engle also made her impact felt on defense with a game-high six steals.

Salem capped off its fourth win of the season by knocking down 22-of-60 (36.7%) from the floor and 2-of-8 (25%) at the free throw line. The Spirits hit 19-of-30 (63.3%) from the floor and held a 19-11 advantage in bench points. Salem's offense took advantage of 14 steals, outscoring Meredith 20-6 in fast break points.

First Quarter
Salem knocked down 6-of-14 field goals and was successful on 3-of-5 free throws in the opening frame to close within one, 16-15, after the close of the first quarter. The two teams played a closely contested first quarter with Meredith managing to pull ahead by just three on two occasions. After two ties in the first four points, Nykerah Engle provided Salem with a 5-4 lead on a free throw at the 7:32 mark. Just over four minutes later, Meredith's Emma Lodge drove past the Salem defense to make for a 12-9 lead. Lily Gorum answered with a layup of her own, but Barresha Jones answered with a jumper for the Avenging Angels. Bass capped off first quarter scoring with a pair of free throws, giving Salem a 15-14 lead, before a jumper by Danae Hawkins resulted in the one-point Meredith advantage.

Second Quarter
The Avenging Angels stretched their lead to five, 20-15, in the first two minutes of the second quarter. However, Dionne Sampson scored four of the next five points for the Spirits to even the contest at 20-all at the 7:07 mark. Corpening continued the scoring barrage for Salem with four points of her own, resulting in a 24-20 lead. The inside game of Ja'Frye Barr and Cristina Battistini helped the Spirits margin balloon to 31-24, before Bass connected on a long distance 3-pointer, following a pass from Sampson, to extend the margin to 34-24. Engle added a layup of her own and Salem allowed just one Meredith point in the final 3:53 to head to the locker rooms with a 36-25 lead at the intermission.

Third Quarter
The Spirits offense remained in rhythm after the break, finishing 6-of-18 from the floor in the third as Salem outscored Meredith 17-13 in the frame and added to their halftime lead in the process. Battistini helped the Spirits to stretch their lead to 15 points, 41-16, after capping off a pass from Bass with a layup at the 8:15 mark. Corpening kept the margin at 15 with a layup of her own, but a brief Meredith rally trimmed the deficit to nine, 43-34, on a jumper by Piper Carriere. Bass highlighted a 6-0 Salem run with 3-pointer at the 3:19 mark. She added a layup, by virtue of an Engle pass at the 2:21 mark, before Engle ended third quarter scoring with a pair of free throws.

Fourth Quarter
Looking to finish strong in its first USA South Conference win of the season, Battistini stretched the Salem lead to 17, 55-38, with a jumper inside the first two minutes. Meredith sliced the margin to 59-49, following a trey from Carriere, but Lee kept the margin at double figures by driving home a pass from Battistini, resulting in a 61-49 advantage. Sampson capped off the game with three of the final four points as Salem secured its first USA South Conference win of the season.