WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.— Tyler Davenport scored a team-high 17 points, while teammates Kyana Thomas (14), Cree Bass (13) and Tamsi Echendu (10) reached the double-digit scoring plateau in Salem's 89-70 setback to N.C. Wesleyan in the USA South Conference opener for both teams at Varsity Gym in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Tuesday evening.

Davenport knocked down 4-of-11 from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers, and was 7-of-10 at the free throw line. Thomas reached double figures for the third straight contest, hitting 5-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Bass emerged with 13 points, after finishing 3-of-6 from the field and 6-of-8 at the free throw line, while handing out three assists. Echendu reached double figures for the first time in her collegiate career by virtue of hitting 5-of-6 from the floor.

Salem, which dropped to 1-4 on the season and 0-1 in league action, crashed the boards for 40 rebounds, including 17 on the offensive glass. Echendu lead the way with eight rebounds (five offensive), while Thomas snagged six, including four on the offensive end. Bass climbed the boards for five rebounds for the Spirits.

N.C. Wesleyan (3-4, 1-0 USA South) was led by the performance of Kayrisma Harrison, who finished with 24 points and 17 rebounds. She was successful on 10-of-17 shooting, hitting 4-of-5 from the free throw line, while grabbing 13 of her game-high 17 rebounds on the defensive glass. Nadia Simmons, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, was also key for the Battling Bishops. Kayla Johnson and Areina Harris tallied 10 points each in the victory.

Davenport provided Salem with the early lead, 3-2, after knocking down a long distance shot following an assist from Lauren Privette. Salem lead by one point on four occasions through the first 4:06 of the contest, before the Battling Bishops went on a 6-0 run, receiving four points from Harrison in the process, to grab a 14-9 lead. The lead eventually grew to double figures, 23-13, before layups by Echendu and a free throw from Bass made for a 25-18 first quarter score.

The Battling Bishops opened the second quarter with an 8-2 run, capped off by a jumper from Myesha Best, to stretch their lead to 13 points. The combination of Davenport and Bass kept Salem within striking distance, 34-25, as the two teams exchanged buckets that kept the margin teetering on the double-digit mark. After a jumper by Savanah Atkins, which trimmed the deficit to nine for Salem, the Battling Bishops closed the half on a 6-1 run to assume a 45-31 lead at the intermission.

N.C. Wesleyan outscored the Spirits 20-13 in the third frame, establishing their largest lead—23 points—in the process. The Battling Bishops distanced themselves by hitting 7-of-21 from the floor and 4-of-4 at the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Salem struggled from long distance (1-of-6) as the Spirits looked to shoot their way back into the contest.

However, Salem responded with a strong fourth quarter, finishing 8-of-21 from the floor and a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line. Bass opened the frame with a 3-pointer, helping Salem to eventually trim the margin to 72-58 following a timely jumper by Davenport. The Spirits eventually trimmed the deficit to 12, following a pair of free throws by Alize Brooks. The Battling Bishops answered by putting together a 12-5 run over the final 3:43 of the game to cap off the 89-70 victory.

Salem returns to action in one week, on November 30th, when the Spirits head to Fayetteville, N.C., to take on Methodist. It is the first game of a four-game road stretch for Salem.