Site:
Brevard, N.C. / Boshamer Gym

Score:
Brevard 93, Salem 59

Records:
Salem (8-17, 4-14 USA South) / Brevard (16-8, 11-7 USA South)

BREVARD, N.C. — Dionne Sampson put the finishing touches on her Salem career, putting together a 14-point performance, while Isabella Childs added 12 and Ti'Erra Lee delivered 10 in Salem's 2023-24 season finale. The trio was offset by Jada Petty-Wilkins (22 points), Josie Hester (16) and Makayla Street (11), who helped host Brevard earn a 93-59 victory at Boshamer Gym.

Sampson was efficient throughout the day for Salem, hitting 7-of-10 from the field, while Childs knocked down 4-of-6 and Lee was 3-of-6. Nykerah Engle finished the game with a team-best five rebounds for Salem.

Sampson finished off her Salem career with 1,076 points, while teammates Alize Munn, Natasha Guo and Cree Bass competed in their final collegiate basketball contest. Munn missed the game due to injury, but Guo recorded point and Bass came through with three points. Salem was 20-of-50 (40%) from the floor in the contest, while hitting 18-of-25 (72%) at the charity stripe.

FIRST QUARTER
Brevard capped off a 21-point opening quarter, hitting 8-of-18 (44.4%) from the floor, while Salem responded with four field goals, including a 3-pointer, and four free throws to finish with 13 points. The Tornados grabbed a 5-0 lead before Isabella Childs converted the first of two free throws at the 6:57 mark. Lily Gorum provided the Spirits with an 8-7 advantage with 4:24 remaining, but Brevard answered with a 12-0 run, to move in front 19-8. Sampson drove home a 3-pointer to close out first quarter scoring as the Tornados lead 21-13.

SECOND QUARTER
The Spirits rebounded from a difficult shooting opening quarter to score 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Salem also picked up two points from the free throw line. Four points from Ti'Erra Lee helped trim the Brevard lead to 21-19, but Brevard responded with a 6-2 run to provide a six-point cushion with 3:44 left. Jada Petty-Wilkins converted a 3-pointer with 1:44 left to make for a 34-23 advantage, but the two teams scored three points each to make for a 37-27 lead at the intermission.

THIRD QUARTER
Brevard came out of the intermission firing on all cylinders, hitting 10-of-16 from the floor, along with a trio of 3-pointers, finishing with 24 points as the lead moved to 61-46. Lee began second half scoring with a pair of free throws for the Spirits, but Alexis Marshall pushed the Brevard lead to 50-35 on a 3-pointer at the 4:39 mark. Sampson and Nykerah Engle converted field goals for Salem, but the Tornados managed to close the quarter with a 58-42 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER
Brevard closed out the game with both sound offense and solid defense, scoring 32 points by virtue of hitting 11-of-21 from the floor, while limiting Salem to just three field goals and 13 points. The bulk of Salem's offense came from the free throw line, where the Spirits were 7-of-13.