STAUNTON, Va. – Cree Bass had a solid all-around performance with 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists, but it was a 24-point fourth quarter that allowed Mary Baldwin to separate itself from Salem as the Fighting Squirrels claimed a 68-54 win on Saturday afternoon in Staunton, Va.
Bass led the Salem offense by hitting 4-of-9 from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers, along with two free throws. Bass also led the Spirits (1-6, 0-3 USA South) in rebounds with seven (six defensive) and three assists. She was joined in double figure scoring by Savanah Atkins, who finished with 11 points and two steals. Atkins knocked down 4-of-9 from the floor, converting one long distance trey, and was successful on two free throws.
Kyana Thomas had a solid performance for the Spirits with a team-high nine points off the bench after finishing 4-of-9 from the floor. Sarah Nelson added six points, by virtue of 4-of-4 from the charity stripe, as the reserves accounted for 20 points. Lauren Privette was active on defense with a team-best four steals.
Jalen Gathers came through with 24 points and 12 rebounds, both game highs, for the Fighting Squirrels, who moved to 5-2 overall and 1-2 in USA South play. Joining her in double-digit scoring were Demet Saygili (12 points) and Mekayla Clarke (11), leading the way for a unit that hit 22-of-66 from the floor and 23-of-37 at the free throw line.
Mary Baldwin owned a 53-40 advantage on the glass between the combination of Gathers and teammates Mary Moran and A'Cetta Farrait, who grabbed 10 rebounds each. Saygili added eight steals for the Fighting Squirrels.
The Spirits established a 26-14 lead in the first quarter, knocking down 11-of-17 (64.7%) from the floor and 4-of-7 from 3-point range in the process. Bass scored eight points in the process and Thomas contributed seven off the bench. Leading 12-8 after a jumper from senior Sydney Bowen, Salem put together a 5-2 run that included a 3-pointer from Atkins and a jumper by Bowen at the 3:46 mark. Thomas stretched the Spirits' lead to 21-12 just over a minute later, helping result in a 12-point lead after one quarter.
Clarke scored six points in the second quarter for the Fighting Squirrels while Atkins led the way for Salem with four in the second quarter. The Spirits were limited to 4-of-12 shooting from the floor, but only allowed Mary Baldwin to make up four points in the frame. Salem saw its lead trimmed to five, 28-23, after a Clarke jump shot at the 4:56 mark. However, it was four points from Atkins and three by Dionne Sampson that allowed Salem to take a 37-29 lead into the intermission.
Continuing to make a run on the lead, Mary Baldwin outscored Salem 15-7 in the third quarter to draw even at 44-all by the end of the frame. Gathers sparked the offense with eight points, hitting 3-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-3 at the charity stripe, while Moran contributed three. Salem scored three points, including a Bass layup, in the first 1:48 to establish a 40-31 advantage. However, the Fighting Squirrels answered with a 13-4 run of their own to knot the game heading into the final quarter.
Saygili provided the Fighting Squirrels with their first lead of the game afternoon just 15 seconds into the fourth, converting a pair of free throws. That sparked a 13-3 run for Mary Baldwin, which allowed just a Bowen layup and a free throw by Atkins during a 3:06 stretch. Privette brought the Spirits to within seven, 57-50, at the 6:27 mark, but the offense would muster just four points over the remainder of the contest. Meanwhile, Mary Baldwin scored 11 points to make for the 14-point difference.
Salem returns to action at Ferrum on December 15th when the two clash at 6 p.m. in Virginia.