WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem basketball team continues its season-long four-game road stretch on Saturday when it heads to Mary Baldwin for a 2 p.m. clash with the Fighting Squirrels.

The matinee between the two teams marks the third straight USA South Conference game for the Spirits, who are looking to capture their first league victory since defeating Methodist by a 78-66 margin on January 16, 2019.

BASS MASTERS USA SOUTH OPPONENTS: Sophomore Cree Bass, who posted a single-game season-high 15 points for Salem against Methodist on Tuesday evening, leads the way for the Spirits in scoring against USA South Conference opponents.

Bass, with 28 points to her credit versus league foes, is hitting 9-of-19 from the field (47.4%), 4-of-9 (44.4%) from 3-point range and has knocked down 6-of-8 free throws (75%) in games against N.C. Wesleyan and Methodist.

Bass converted 6-of-13 shots from the floor, including three from beyond the arc, while making her presence felt with six rebounds and four steals on Tuesday evening against the Monarchs. That was after she finished with 13 points, after hitting 3-of-6 field goals and 6-of-8 free throws in the league opener against N.C. Wesleyan on November 23rd.

The Maiden, N.C. native is second on the team in total rebounds (11), after pulling down nine on the defensive end, in USA South play. She is four rebounds off the pace established by Tamsi Echendu, who has 15 rebounds, including seven offensive.

SNAPSHOT OF THE SQUIRRELS: Mary Baldwin enters the contest on a three-game losing streak which dates back to November 20th. The Fighting Squirrels have suffered setbacks to Methodist (53-43), Southern Virginia (72-57) and Roanoke (74-37) in succession.

Mary Baldwin is 4-3 overall on the slate, winning three of those games at home.

Individually the Fighting Squirrels are led by the play of Demet Saygili (83 points) and A'Cetta Farrait (60) in scoring. Meanwhile, Saygili and Mary Moran top the unit in rebounding with 43 and 41, respectively. Saygili has also forced 24 steals, handed out 27 assists, both tops on the Mary Baldwin squad, while converting one block.

HISTORY WITH MARY BALDWIN: The Fighting Squirrels own a 5-3 lead in the all-time series between the two programs, winning the last four straight. That winning streak began with a 94-71 win in Varsity Gym on November 30, 2019.

Salem posted back-to-back wins against Mary Baldwin on January 14, 2018 (69-54) and 13 days later (86-45), along with a 71-67 in the first-ever meeting between the two teams on February 9, 2016.

All-Time Series (vs. Mary Baldwin)
Mary Baldwin leads series 5-3