ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Kayrisma Harrison scored a game-high 19 points and led three N.C. Wesleyan players in double figures as the Battling Bishops posted an 83-52 USA South Conference victory over Salem when the two teams clashed Tuesday afternoon in Rocky Mount, N.C. The Spirits were led offensively by the tandem of Alize Munn and Dionne Sampson, who scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Salem (1-11, 0-5 USA South) knocked down 20-of-65 (30.8%) from the floor and was successful on 10-of-14 (71.4%) attempts at the free throw line in the setback. Munn was responsible for 5-of-8 shooting from the floor and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds, including five on the offensive glass. Sampson joined her teammate in double figure scoring by hitting 3-of-10 from the floor and finishing a perfect 4-of-4 at the charity stripe.
Munn led all Salem rebounders with nine, two more than Tyler Davenport, who hauled in seven. The tandem of Munn and Sydney Bowen dished out two assists each for the Spirits.
Harrison capped off a double-double with 19 points and 17 rebounds, nine of which came on the offensive glass. Harrison was 9-of-16 from the floor and 1-of-3 at the free throw line. Johnay Goddard led the reserve unit with 15 points, finishing 6-of-11 from the floor. She also came through with five rebounds. Nadia Simmons rounded out double-digit scorers with 10 for the Battling Bishops (5-7, 3-2 USA South), after hitting 3-of-4 from the floor and the free throw line.
N.C. Wesleyan established itself early in the contest, jumping out to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter. Harrison and Myesha Best tallied six points each for a Battling Bishops' unit that was 8-of-21 (38.1%) from the floor. Meanwhile, Salem managed just 2-of-14 (14.3%) shooting and was led by Sampson's four points.
The Spirits found their rhythm in the second quarter, hitting 7-of-15 (46.7%) from the floor and 5-of-8 (62.5%) at the free throw line. Davenport led all Salem scorers with six points and three rebounds, hitting 2-of-4 from the floor and 2-of-3 at the charity stripe.
A third straight 20-point quarter by N.C. Wesleyan resulted in a 66-38 lead. Harrison was the focal point of the offense, knocking down 4-of-8 from the floor and grabbing six rebounds, to close with nine points. Nadia Simmons added six, after finishing 2-of-3 from the floor, while the Battling Bishops' defense limited Salem to five field goals in the frame. Savanah Atkins, who finished 2-of-2 from the floor while grabbing a pair of rebounds, was the top scorer for the Spirits with four points.
Munn scored six of her 11 points in the final quarter, hitting 3-of-4 from the floor in the process. She also anchored the middle with four rebounds, while Sarah Nelson added three points and Alize Brooks contributed two. Goddard and Best topped the N.C. Wesleyan offensive leaders with six and five points, respectively, while Keorra Taylor climbed the glass for three rebounds.
Salem begins a three-game homestand on Friday, January 7th when the Spirits face William Peace at 6 p.m. They follow that up with a 4 p.m. clash against Methodist on Saturday, January 8th.