Site:
Ferrum, Va.

Score:
Ferrum 84, Salem 70

Records:
Salem (5-3) / Ferrum (6-5)

Next Game:
Salem at Montreat | Montreat, N.C. | 2 p.m.

FERRUM, Va. — Dionne Sampson led four Salem players in double figures, scoring 21 points, but it was a 21-point third quarter outburst that made the difference as Ferrum earned an 84-70 victory at Schwartz Gymnasium in non-conference action on Friday evening.

Sampson topped the 20-point mark for the second time this season by hitting 8-of-17 from the floor, 3-of-6 from 3-point range along with a pair of free throws. Meanwhile, Cree Bass delivered 13 points in 23 minutes in reserve. Bass finished 5-of-9 from the floor and was successful on 3-of-6 from 3-point range.

Alize Munn reached double figures with 12 points, also finishing 5-of-9 from the floor, while Ti'Erra Lee rounded out double-digit scorers with 11 points by virtue of a 5-for-7 outing. Lee also climbed the boards for a game-high five rebounds, while equaling Sampson for the team lead in steals with two.

Salem finished 26-of-62 (41.9%) from the floor and was 6-of-14 (42.9%) from beyond the arc.

First Quarter
Salem capitalized on eight field goals, including a pair from long distance, to come through with 20 points in the frame. Sampson provided one of those 3-pointers at the 8:23 mark for the Spirits, but Allyson Cassell connected on a jumper of her own, giving Ferrum a 6-5 lead. The Panthers scored 12 of the next 19 points, including a layup by Kayla Cabiness, to forge in front 18-12. Munn and Cree Bass delivered timely layups for Salem, slicing the lead to 20-17, but Ferrum closed out the quarter on a 5-3 run to own a five-point lead.

Second Quarter
After a pair of conversions by Ferrum stretched its lead to 29-20, but Ti'Erra Lee countered with a layup to spark a 13-4 Salem rally that trimmed the deficit to three with an Isabella Childs layup. Cabiness and Cassell provided the Panthers with a double-digit cushion at the 3:53 mark, 41-30. Consecutive treys from Sampson and Bass placed Salem within three, 41-38, with 1:52 remaining. Bass tacked on a key trey inside the final minute, while an old-fashioned three-point play of her own, resulting in a 47-44 Ferrum lead at the intermission.

Third Quarter
The Spirits endured a difficult shooting third quarter, hitting just 5-of-17 from the floor, while allowing Ferrum to close 8-of-16 in a 21-point effort. A scoreless drought by the Spirits allowed Ferrum to tally 11 straight points, establishing a 58-44 advantage on a Trina Lewis layup. Aliyah Corpening hit a pull up jumper to halt the Spirits' scoring drought, but Lewis connected on a jumper that made for a 64-48 lead with 4:05 left. Lee and Battistini helped Salem stay within striking distance, 68-59, with under a minute remaining.

Fourth Quarter
Entering the fourth quarter with a nine-point lead, Erin Harden pushed the margin to double figures with a layup inside the first two minutes. Bass and Lee teamed for four points, cutting the deficit to 75-67, before a 7-0 run capped off by a Cassell 3-pointer resulted in a 15-point Panthers' lead. Sampson and Natasha Guo, who came through with a free throw, capped off scoring for Salem in the contest. The victory is the sixth for Ferrum in the head-to-head series.