RALEIGH, N.C. – Meredith took advantage of a pair of double-double performances by Kimberly Schuh (34 points, 18 rebounds) and Kate Perko (22 points, 17 rebounds) to earn a 69-39 victory over Salem in USA South Conference basketball action on Saturday, Jan. 18.
The Avenging Angels (7-11, 3-6 USA South), who finished 27-of-63 (42.9%) in the game from the floor, were led in shooting by Schuh, who was successful on 14-of-21 field goals. She knocked down two of those attempts from beyond the arc and finished 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Perko converted 8-of-18 from the floor and was able to finish with 6-of-7 from the charity stripe.
The tandem of Schuh and Perko also provided Meredith with a 51-31 edge on the glass, with Schuh snagging 18 rebounds (12 defensive) and Perko coming through with 17 boards (12 defensive).
Aubrey Slaughter reached double figure scoring for the Spirits (0-15, 0-8 USA South), finishing with 13 points and a team-best six rebounds, by virtue of hitting 6-of-11 from the field. It marks the fourth time this season that Slaughter has eclipsed double-figure scoring. Teammates Sydney Bowen and Alize Brooks narrowly missed double-digit outings with eight points apiece.
Salem limited Schuh to four points inside the first four minutes of the third quarter, while taking advantage of six points from Slaughter and a 3-pointer off the hand of Bowen, trimming the Avenging Angels' lead to 32-21 at the 6:18 mark. Perko emerged with six unanswered points, stretching the lead to 17, before a series of buckets by Slaughter, Brooks and Dionne Sampson. Slaughter and Brooks tallied four points down the stretch, but Perko and Schuh answered as Meredith led 47-29 through three quarters.
Meredith closed out the fourth quarter by outscoring the Spirits 22-10, led by Schuh who finished with 16 points by hitting 6-of-9 from the floor. Meanwhile, Salem was limited to 4-of-15 shooting as the combination of Brooks, Slaughter, Cayla Harris, Shenique Pharr and Lauren Privette were responsible for two points each.
Meredith bolted out to a 7-2 lead in the first 6:21 of the game, but Bowen came through with two free throws and a timely 3-pointer to make for a 9-7 contest with just under two minutes left in the first. Daia Dawkins converted a layup and Schuh scored the final three points of the frame to give the Avenging Angels a 14-8 advantage through the first quarter.
Slaughter and Brooks combined for four Salem points in a 27-second stretch of the second, cutting the Meredith lead to 17-12, but Schuh answered with six points and Madison Gladwell added a trey to provide the Avenging Angels with a 28-12 advantage at the intermission.
Salem concludes its four-game road stretch at Mary Baldwin on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. For more information on Salem basketball check out www.salemspirits.com.