Opponent:
Salem at Meredith | Raleigh, N.C. | 6 p.m. | Weatherspoon Athletic Center

SALEM BEGINS USA SOUTH CONFERENCE SLATE AT MEREDITH
Salem completes its four-game road stretch to open the 2023-24 season with a trip to Raleigh, N.C., on Tuesday evening to face Meredith. Salem is looking to halt a four-game skid in USA South Conference openers when it clashes with the Avenging Angels at 6 p.m.

SPIRITS OPEN 3-0 FOR FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY
The 2023-24 Salem basketball team and head coach Sharee' Boyd opened the season 3-0 for the first time in program history following a pair of wins at the All-Women's Tip-Off Tournament at Hollins in Roanoke, Va.

After the Spirits defeated both Trinity (D.C.) and Agnes Scott it marked the first time in program history that a Salem team opened the season at 3-0.

Salem has opened a season at 2-0 just once in history, which came in the 2009-10 campaign, and on four occasions has been 2-1 through the first three contests. The 2-1 starts came in 2009-10, 2012-13, 2016-17 and most recently in 2017-18.

MUNN RECEIVES USA SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Senior guard Alize Munn capped off an impressive three-game stretch where she scored 68 points and grabbed 33 rebounds by earning USA South Player of the Week honors in an announcement from the league office on Monday, November 20th.

Munn was instrumental in helping the Spirits start a season 3-0 for the first time in program history, hitting 29-of-49 (59.2%) from the floor and 10-of-12 (83.3%) at the charity stripe. She also climbed the glass for 33 rebounds, including 15 offensive boards, while forcing 10 steals and finishing with two blocked shots.

SPIRITS IN USA SOUTH CONFERENCE OPENERS
Salem is looking to snap a four-game skid in league openers, which dates back to November 30, 2018, following a 94-71 setback to Mary Baldwin.

The 2023-24 unit will look to open the USA South Conference slate by mirroring the 2017-18 team, which opened with 75-52 win over Meredith on November 26, 2017. That is the only Salem team to begin the conference campaign with a victory in the opener at Varsity Gym. The Spirits have claimed two USA South Conference openers at home, since joining the league in 2016-17, and both came in the 2017 calendar year.

HOW THE SPIRITS MOVED TO 3-0 LAST WEEK …
at Warren Wilson (Nov. 14): Senior Alize Munn finished one point shy of her career high, notching a game-high 24 points, as she led the Salem basketball team to a 76-69 victory in Warren Wilson on Tuesday evening. Joining Munn among double-digit scorers for the Spirits were Nykerah Engle (12) and Cree Bass, who recorded 13 in the victory. Dionne Sampson capped off the game with a 13-point effort for the Spirits.

Munn and Gorum shared the team lead in rebounds, grabbing nine apiece, combining for 11 offensive boards on the evening. Meanwhile, teammates Cristina Battistini and Ti'Erra Lee grabbed seven rebounds each for the reserves.

vs. Trinity (D.C.) (Nov. 17): Salem senior Alize Munn emerged with 17 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Spirits close out a 69-62 victory over Trinity (D.C.) as the 2023-24 unit equaled the 2009-10 team as the only team to ever open a season 2-0.

Munn knocked down 6-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the charity stripe, to reach double figures for the second time in as many contests. She also climbed the glass for a game-high 14 rebounds, pulling down eight on the defensive glass. Teammate Dionne Sampson was also a key contributor for the starting lineup with 16 points, which came by virtue of hitting 6-of-17 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

Cree Bass came off the bench to finish with 14 points for Salem, delivering a pair of 3-pointers, while finishing a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Like Munn, Lily Gorum was active on the glass with seven rebounds, including four on the defensive end, while Sampson came through with five offensive boards.

vs. Agnes Scott (Nov. 18): Alize Munn delivered not only her second double-double of the weekend, which resulted in 27 points and 10 rebounds, but was also the catalyst for the Salem basketball offense that posted a 74-54 win over Agnes Scott in the second day of action at the All-Women's Tip-Off Tournament in Roanoke, Va. That victory over the Scotties, which marked the fifth in Salem history, gave the Spirits a 3-0 start for the first time in program history.

Munn was in rhythm throughout the course of the game, hitting 12-of-16 from the floor and 3-of-4 at the free throw line. She also climbed the glass for 10 rebounds, including seven defensive, along with handing out three assists.

One of Salem's three double-digit scorers was Dionne Sampson, who contributed 14 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds. Teammate Aliyah Corpening, who tallied 11 points, was also active with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.

SALEM ALL-TIME HISTORY WITH MEREDITH
The two USA South Conference programs have faced each other 16 times with Meredith owning a 9-7 advantage in the head-to-head series.

Furthermore, the two have split their last four games, winning on their respective home courts in the process. The trend began with a 74-61 win by the Spirits on January 29, 2022 at Varsity Gym. Last season, on February 11, 2023, Salem's duo of Dionne Sampson and Minnie Griffin established single-game season-high, scoring 24 and 22 points, respectively, guiding the Spirits to a decisive 84-69 victory over Meredith.

The Spirts have the longest winning streak in the series, five games, which spanned from November 25, 2008 through February 10, 2018.

ALL-TIME SERIES (vs. Meredith)