BLACK STUDENT UNION PHOTO GALLERY
For anyone who knows Salem basketball players Tamsi Echendu and Dionne Sampson, it would be easy to say that they are as close on the court as they are away from it. On most days, you can find the pair sitting and swapping stories and laughs at The Refectory, while eating lunch. When they are not there together, you can normally find them sitting on the quad or walking across campus, while sharing their distinctive laughs.
They also share that same bond on the court, which resulted in the pair ranking among the Top-3 on the team in points, rebounds and free throws made. In the case of Sampson, she led the 2022-23 Salem basketball team in 11 major statistical categories, including minutes (738), points (306), field goals made (97), field goals attempted (321), free throws made (96), free throws attempted (140), free throw percentage (68.6%), assists (63), steals (57), points (303) and points per game (13.3).
Meanwhile, Echendu capped off her sophomore season by notching the most rebounds (153), rebounds per game (7.7), ranking second in free throws made (62) and attempted (115) and scoring the third-most points (202) and points per game (10.1).
As a result of her standout season, Sampson closed out her Salem career with 675 points (7th-most), 231 field goals (9th-most), 222 rebounds, 167 made free throws (7th-most), 157 assists (4th-most) and 147 steals (4th-most). The Burlington, N.C., native capped off her Salem career by reaching double-digit points on 32 occasions in three seasons and is one of just five players in program history to score 600 points, grab 200 rebounds, hand out 100 assists and force 100 steals.
Echendu established some records of her own in 2022-23, finishing with the second-best field goal percentage (.522) in a single-season in program history after reaching double-digit scoring on 12 occasions. Echendu moved herself atop the Salem career leaders in field goal percentage (.515), while climbing up the list among career leaders in offensive rebounds (126-7th), free throws attempted (179-12th), total rebounds (294-15th) and free throws made (91-15th).
At the close of the season, the pair of Sampson and Echendu shared the distinction of being the second teammates in program history to rank among the NCAA leaders in free throw attempts. Sampson ranked 60th nationally in the category, while Echendu was 161st, and they became the first teammates since Tyler Davenport and Mikayla Seivers in 2017-18, to rank among the national leaders in that statistical category.
However, they also made another impression at Salem—AS LEADERS. The two are active in Salem's Black Student Union, helping pave the way for a more diverse campus. Echendu, who served as the Vice President of the Black Student Union (BSU) for most of the year, has been promoted to President with outgoing President Jasmine Scott set to graduate. Meanwhile, Sampson is close by and "assisting" her teammate and close friend as the BSU's Fundraising Chair.
The two have paired to plan events and meetings to better the Black Student Union throughout campus, while talking with advisors and classmates on ways to recruit more individuals to become part of the organization.
Among the ways that they have become more active, not only at Salem College, but also at nearby Winston-Salem State and Wake Forest, is to host a number of events. The BSU has been responsible for a masquerade party, trip to the Black History Museum, Movie Nights, PJ Day, Paint N' Sip, S'mores Night and Dark Hide and Seek.
One event in particular, the Pie in the Face, has drawn attention across campus. The event has included Salem dignitaries such as President Dr. Summer McGee, Victoria Burgos, Director of Athletics J.J. Antoine, Maggie Bessel, Collier Lumpkin and Jon Cole.
Echendu described the importance of the BSU in her life by saying "your character is more important than how good you are at any sport. Your athleticism is only temporary, but your character, the type of person you are, lasts forever. Be humble. Be compassionate. Be grateful. Be honest and put others first. Be the best person you can be."
"I chose this quote because being an athlete is not going to last forever," said Echendu. "I like to make an impact on people's lives and right now what that looks like for me off the court is being a leader for people who look like me. Being on PWI campus it is important to have leaders in the African American community to create a safe space for students of color. Being able to have one of my favorite teammates by my side, Dionne it's like a dream come true. Dionne and I are natural born leaders and that is both on and off the court. Also a special thanks to another student-athlete leader Alize Munn who is BSU's Public Relations Chair."
