WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem basketball team returns to the hardwoods, facing a weekend clash with Meredith after a 17-day break in action. The Spirits open action with a home game against Meredith on Saturday, January 29th at 2 p.m., before making the trek to Raleigh, N.C. to face the Avenging Angels on Sunday.

On Sunday, the Spirits go in search of their first road victory since claiming a 70-69 win at Meredith on February 10, 2018. It would also mark the first USA South Conference win for Salem since that date.

SALEM COLLEGE ATHLETIC SPECTATOR POLICY: Salem College Department of Athletics announced for inside contests we will be recognizing the institutional policy of checking vaccine cards or tests 72 hours in advance for events over 50 people. Salem Academy and College faculty, staff and students will be allowed to view indoor athletic contests in person and will be required to show their Salem ID. All contests will be live streamed and accessible to the public via our website. Salem Athletics reserves the right to update these policies without prior notice.

SPIRITS VERSUS USA SOUTH IN 2021-22: Salem has competed in eight USA South Conference games in 2021-22 and are led in scoring by the duo of Tyler Davenport and Cree Bass, who are responsible for 72 points apiece.

Bass leads the unit in field goals made in league action, hitting 25-of-69 (36.2%) from the floor, and is successful on a team-high 10 3-pointers along the way. She has accomplished this while dishing out a team-best 18 assists. Meanwhile, Davenport has knocked down 19-of-58 (32.8%) of her field goals while leading the way in free throws (32-43) with a 74.4 percentage. Dionne Sampson has also been integral offensively with 56 points, hitting 20-of-68 (29.4%) from the field and four 3-pointers.

Tamsi Echendu has also made her presence felt for Salem in league action, pulling down a team-high 54 rebounds (35 defensive) in seven contests. Echendu is one of three Spirits with at least 30 caroms, including Lauren Privette (35) and Davenport (31).

PRIVETTE CLOSE TO MAJOR RECORD: Among Salem's major contributors in its last outing, which came against Southern Virginia on January 12th, was Lauren Privette. She equaled a single-game season-high (10) in rebounds, which she established against Bridgewater on December 29th. Privette has had five games this season in which she grabbed at least five rebounds and the clash with Southern Virginia mark her first against USA South competition.

Privette also had her fifth game of the slate with multiple blocks, giving her 18 on the slate, as she looks to become the first player in program history with at least 20 blocks in three different seasons. The Statesville, N.C., native needs one block to tie Alexiahonna Bush for the program record (86) and is two shy from becoming the all-time leader in blocks in program history.

MEREDITH ANALYSIS: Meredith enters the weekend having lost its last eight straight contests. That streak began with a 62-46 setback to Methodist on January 4th after the Avenging Angels split four contests in December, grabbing wins over William Peace (64-51) and Pfeiffer (69-60).

Three of the setbacks during the eight-game streak have come by less than 10 points for Meredith, including games at Pfeiffer (72-64), Mary Baldwin (60-51) and N.C. Wesleyan (66-59).

Kate Perko has been the primary source of offense for Meredith in league action this season, scoring 227 points by virtue of hitting 91-of-193 (47.2%) from the floor and 45-of-69 (65.2%) from the free throw line. Teammate De'ja Morgan needs just two points to reach 100 on the season for Meredith, becoming the second player to reach that plateau.

Perko has been an all-around performer with 142 rebounds (107 defensive) and 10 blocks, both which lead the Avenging Angels. Her 10 steals are second only to Piper Carriere's 11.

All-Time Series (vs. Meredith)
(Meredith leads 7-5)