Site:
Winston-Salem, N.C. / Varsity Gym

Score:
William Peace 87, Salem 84

Records:
Salem (8-15, 4-12 USA South) / William Peace (7-14, 6-10 USA South)

Next Game:
Salem at Mary Baldwin | Staunton, Va. | 5 p.m. | February 14

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Salem received a pair of double-double performances from Cree Bass (12 points / 10 rebounds) and Isabella Childs (21 points / 12 rebounds), but it was a 38-point outing from William Peace's Tanaesha Ellison that proved to be the difference as the Pacers edged out Salem 87-84 on Senior Day.

Bass closed out her final game at Varsity Gym by hitting 4-of-17 from the field, knocking down three 3-pointers along the way, while hauling in 10 rebounds, including nine defensive. Meanwhile, Childs came off the bench to score 21 points by virtue of hitting 9-of-19 from the floor and 3-of-4 at the free throw line. Childs grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds, pulling down eight defensive, as Salem closed the game with 56 total rebounds (41 defensive).

Dionne Sampson, who competed in her last regular season game at home, closed with 18 points by virtue of hitting 7-of-19 from the field, hitting a pair of 3-pointers, while knocking down 2-of-2 free throw attempts. Sampson was also responsible for five assists, a team-high.

Salem finished 35-of-83 (42.2%) from the field, including six field goals from beyond the arc, while converting 8-of-13 at the charity stripe.

Ellison, one of three Pacers to reach double figures, finished 14-of-26 from the field and was successful on a pair of 3-pointers. She also knocked down 8-of-12 at the free throw line, leading the way for a William Peace unit that converted 17-of-30 trips to the charity stripe. Joining Ellison in double-digit scoring was Nautica Smiley (18) and Hannah Lewis (16). Ellison also made her presence felt on the glass with 12 boards, grabbing nine defensive rebounds along the way.

William Peace assistant coach Sabrina Shepherd, who finished her career as Salem's all-time leading scorer, claimed her first win in the absence of Lori Drake.

FIRST QUARTER
William Peace closed out the first quarter by hitting 11-of-21 (52.4%) from the floor, converting four 3-pointers along the way, finishing with a 27-13 advantage on the scoreboard. The Pacers offense was led by Ellison, who was 5-of-8 from the field, knocking down two treys, while Salem received three points off the bench from Nykerah Engle. After falling behind 5-0 in the first 2:27 of the contest, Ti'Erra Lee put Salem on the board with a layup. A layup by Gorum marked the second bucket for Salem, but the Pacers managed to stretch their lead to 21-7 following a jumper from Brittany Blackburn.

SECOND QUARTER
Both teams finished 8-of-19 from the floor in the frame, but it was a trio of 3-pointers that extended the William Peace lead to 47-31. Ellison was again the catalyst for William Peace 10 points, knocking down 5-of-7 from the field while hauling in four rebounds. Salem sliced the lead to eight early in the quarter, following a bucket by Cristina Battistini, making for a 27-19 score, before a 13-1 run extended that margin to 21. Bass knocked down a 3-pointer to spark the Salem offense, which reached 31 points on a layup by Engle.

THIRD QUARTER
Childs made her presence felt in the third quarter, finishing with eight points and three rebounds, as she hit 3-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-2 at the free throw line. Meanwhile, Bass and Sampson tallied four points apiece, as the Spirits were 7-of-19 (36.8%) from the field. William Peace quickly pushed its lead to 49-33 in the early stages of the quarter, but Salem used a 7-0 run, capped off by a trey from Bass, to move to within seven. The two teams traded baskets throughout the remainder of the quarter as William Peace held a 60-49 lead entering the fourth.

FOURTH QUARTER
Salem enjoyed one of its best quarters of the season in the fourth, scoring 35 points along the way, as the Spirits hit 14-of-27 (51.9%) from the floor, 4-of-9 (44.4%) and 3-of-5 (60%) along the way. Sampson, taking part in her final game at home, led the Spirits in scoring in the frame with 12 points. She was 4-of-7 from the field, draining a pair of 3-pointers, while tacking on two free throws. Meanwhile, Childs contributed seven points to go along with four rebounds and Bass came through with five points. Ellison and Nautica Smiley countered with nine points apiece for William Peace, which held off a late Spirits' surge due in large part to converting 11-of-17 free throws.

William Peace would extend its lead to 75-58, following a layup from Ellison, before a series of points from Aliyah Corpening, Sampson and Dashe'na Hopkins moved Salem to within 10. Childs converted a layup and Bass knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:31 remaining, where the Spirits' faithful came to their feet to make for a raucous Varsity Gym. A late surge by William Peace put the lead back to 10, but 10 points by Sampson down the stretch, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, provided the final 87-84 margin.