Salem vs. Southern Virginia | November 29 | Knight Arena & Stoddard Ctr. | Buena Vista, Va. | 6 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT (vs. Methodist)
A fourth quarter surge, which resulted in a 24-8 scoring differential by Methodist, helped the Monarchs earn a 72-65 victory at Varsity Gym on Tuesday, November 22nd in a USA South Conference clash with Salem.
The Spirits were led individually by first-year standout Minnie Griffin, who poured in a game-high 23 points, as well as Tamsi Echendu, who grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Griffin came off the bench to hit 9-of-12 from the floor, including a trio of 3-pointers, as she became the third different Spirit in 2022-23 to score at least 20 points in reserve. Echendu grabbed 10 of her 12 rebounds on the defensive glass, leading the way for a Spirits unit that tallied 37 total rebounds.
Dionne Sampson also had a solid performance with 11 points, hitting 5-of-14 from the floor along the way, and four assists.
Methodist had four players in double figure scoring, including Kiley Hicks and Aniyah Tate, who notched 14 points apiece. Jillian Peterson added 13 points and Jessica Drake came through with 10 points.
THREE 20-POINT GAMES IN RESERVE
Salem has had three players (Cree Bass, Tamsi Echendu, Minnie Griffin) to score at least 20 points off the bench this season.
Bass was the first to achieve the feat for Salem, posting 25 points in the season-opener against Warren Wilson on November 8th. She notched a single-game career-high 25 points after hitting 8-of-9 from the floor, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and connecting on 7-of-12 free throws.
Four days later, Echendu came off the bench to score 22 points in 33 minutes for Salem. She capped off her second 20-point game in her collegiate career by hitting 6-of-11 from the floor and 10-of-22 at the free throw line en route to a career-high 22 points.
Griffin continued the statistical anomaly with a 23-point outburst in a clash with Methodist. She established her single-game season-high by hitting 9-of-12 from the floor, 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and 2-of-3 at the free throw line
GRIFFIN EARNS USA SOUTH ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Minnie Griffin became the first Salem basketball player to earn in-season honors in the 2022-23 campaign when she was recognized as USA South Rookie of the Week by the league office in a release issued on Monday, November 28th.
Griffin earned the distinction after a 23-point performance on Tuesday, November 22nd, in a clash with USA South Conference rival Methodist.
The Orlando, Fla., native becomes the third player in program history to earn USA South Rookie of the Week honors. Teammates Tamsi Echendu (November 29, 2021) and Alize Munn (February 14, 2022) received the honor in the 2021-22 season.
Appearing in just her third collegiate game, Griffin reached double figures for the first time in her career by hitting 9-of-12 from the floor, 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and 2-of-3 at the free throw line. She also hauled in four rebounds, including three on the offensive glass, forced two steals and made one block.
ECHENDU LEADS MULTIPLE STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
Sophomore center Tamsi Echendu leads eight statistical categories through the first five games of the season for the Spirits. Echendu tops the lineup in points (53), field goal percentage (.516), free throws made (21), free throws attempted (40), offensive rebounds (16), defensive rebounds (21), total rebounds (37) and steals (nine).
Echendu has reached double figure scoring on three occasions this season, netting a single-game season-high 22 points in a setback to Randolph on November 12th. On the season, she has knocked down 16-of-31 from the floor and 21-of-40 at the free throw line.
Defensively, Echendu is the only Salem player with double-digit offensive rebounds (16), while hauling in 21 defensive boards, resulting in a team-high 37 total rebounds. She has also forced nine steals, one more than teammates Cree Bass and Alize Munn, who have eight each.
Munn leads the way for Salem in field goals made (19), hitting 47.5 percent from the floor, second-best on the unit. Bass has proven to be the most lethal 3-point shooter, converting 5-of-19 from beyond the arc, to lead all Salem shooters in that category.
ANALYZING SOUTHERN VIRGINIA
Southern Virginia heads into the week with a 2-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in USA South Conference play, following a decisive 80-48 victory over William Peace last Tuesday.
The Knights opened the season with a 74-56 victory over Randolph-Macon before falling on the road to both Shenandoah (59-35) and Methodist (54-53).
Courtney Olson, who has 45 points to her credit, leads all Southern Virginia scorers. She is followed in scoring by Addison Newman and Alyssa McKrola, who have 36 and 31 points, respectively. Olson is hitting 17-of-47 (36.2%) from the floor, knocking down two 3-pointers in the process, in four starts. She also leads the Knights in rebounding with 23, grabbing a team-high 11 offensive rebounds, and assists (eight).
Eve Schmalbeck, who is 6-of-10 from the floor, is the most efficient shooter for Southern Virginia at 60 percent. Newman ranks second on the team, hitting 12-of-22 (54.5%), among players with at least 10 field goal attempts. Newman also has forced a team-high 10 steals, while Olson has nine to her credit.
Southern Virginia is hitting 38.8 percent (90-of-232) as a team from the floor, draining 15 3-pointers in the process. The Knights have converted 47-of-72 (65.3%) of their free throws this season and are averaging 60.5 points along the way.
