Site:
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Score:
Southern Virginia 97, Salem 52
Records:
Salem (7-8, 3-5 USA South) / Southern Virginia (11-4, 9-0 USA South)
Next Game:
Salem at Pfeiffer | Misenheimer, N.C. | 2 p.m. | January 20 | Merner Gym
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Aysia Foster scored a game-high 16 points and led four Southern Virginia players in double figures as the Knights kept their perfect USA South Conference record (9-0) intact with a 97-52 victory over Salem at Varsity Gym on Wednesday evening.
Salem's lineup was led by the tandem of Nykerah Engle and Dionne Sampson, who scored 14 points each. It marks the fourth time that Engle has topped the double figure mark in her first year, while Sampson moved her career point total to 923.
Engle, who notched her single-game season high in points finished 4-of-5 from the floor and 6-of-8 at the free throw line in 25 minutes. Meanwhile, Sampson capped off the game by finishing 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 at the charity stripe while being riddled with foul trouble throughout the contest. Ti'Erra Lee led the Spirits in rebounding with five, making two blocks along the way.
Along with Foster, Southern Virginia witnessed Abigail Snyder (15), Lilly Kentner (15) and Alyssa Weiland (12) all reach the double figure mark. Snyder was also active on the glass with 10 rebounds, capping off the lone double-double of the contest.
FIRST QUARTER
Salem stormed out to a solid first quarter, converting 4-of-7 (57.1%) from the field and 7-of-12 (58.3%) at the free throw line. The Spirits, who tallied 16 points in the frame, got eight of those points off the hand of Sampson, who was 2-of-4 from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 at the charity stripe. Salem established a 6-0 lead in the first three minutes of the contest, capped off by a conversion from Nykerah Engle. The Knights retaliated with an 9-2 run, which drew to a close with a free throw by Abigail Snyder. The back-and-forth battle ensued with Salem trailing 16-15 at the close of the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
Southern Virginia broke the huddle in the second half and rebounded from a difficult shooting performance in the first quarter by knocking down 11-of-17 (64.7%) from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers. Sampson provided the first points of the quarter for the Spirits, but Southern Virginia put together a 14-5 run, which included a Snyder trey to forge in front 30-21 at the 6:02 mark. Isabella Childs knocked down a jumper and a series of free throws for Salem, but the Knights held a 43-27 lead at the intermission.
THIRD QUARTER
Salem concluded the 18-point third quarter by hitting 6-off-14 (42.9%) from the field as a unit, while finishing a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Engle was the leading scorer with six points, while the Knights' were led by Foster's eight points. Southern Virginia ended the frame with 27 points, equaling their second quarter total. The Knights scored 10 of the first 12 points of the frame and grabbed a 53-31 lead on a layup conversion by Foster. Lily Gorum and Cree Bass accounted for four points for the Spirits, who put the lead back to 20 at the 5:52 mark. Southern Virginia countered with a 13-6 run, where Salem received four points from Engle, resulting in a 70-45 margin at the close of the quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
After pushing the margin to 30 inside the first three minutes of the final quarter, Southern Virginia would eventually finish 12-of-21 (57.1%) from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc in the decisive victory. The Knights fourth quarter scoring was led by Kentner, who finished with 10 points. Meanwhile, Salem's offensive attack was highlighted by the dup of Dashe'na Hopkins and Cree Bass, who tallied three points apiece.
