WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem basketball team begins a three-game homestand at Varsity Gym this weekend when it hosts William Peace and Methodist in consecutive games on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The clash with the Pacers is set for 6 p.m. on Friday and will be followed by a 4 p.m. meeting with the Monarchs on Saturday.

SPECTATOR POLICY:

The Spirits return to Varsity Gym, where they are 1-2 on the season, for the first time since closing out 2021 with an 81-64 setback to Bridgewater. The Salem (1-10, 0-5 USA South) lineup is led offensively by the combination of Tyler Davenport (119 points) and Dionne Sampson (87), while Cree Bass is third with 82 points.

Defensively, Tamsi Echendu (59 rebounds) and Lauren Privette (53) have provided a solid presence on the glass for Salem, which has 441 rebounds. Privette has a team-high 15 blocks and is one of six players with double-digit steals (12). Bass leads all Salem players with 18 steals on the slate. While Echendu leads in offensive rebounds (21), Privette has hauled in a team-high 40 defensive boards.

Salem is averaging 58.5 points per game on the slate, hitting 217-of-658 (33%) from the floor and has converted 169-of-267 (63.3%) from the free throw line. Over the course of the five conferences games, Salem has managed to hit 34.3 percent (102-197) from the floor and is 67-of-107 (62.6%) at the charity stripe. The top individual scorer is Bass, who has 49 points to her credit, by virtue of hitting 15-of-39 from the field, 7-of-18 from 3-point range and 12-of-16 at the free throw line.

PREVIEWING WILLIAM PEACE: The Pacers enter the weekend with a 2-8 mark overall and are 1-3 in league play, dropping their last five straight contests. The losing streak began with a 72-60 setback to N.C. Wesleyan on November 30th and has included losses to Christopher Newport, Meredith, Greensboro and Campbell.

Pamela Mock and Kiera Williams, who have 102 and 96 points, respectively, lead the way for the William Peace unit. Mock has converted 40-of-94 (42.6%) field goals, including four from 3-point range, while hitting 18-of-35 at the free throw line. Williams is second on the team in field goals made (32) and has knocked down 32-of-41 (78%) at the charity stripe. The top 3-point shooter is Cierra Baker, who is 6-of-39 from beyond the arc.

Williams anchors the post for the Pacers with 71 rebounds, pulling down 48 on the defensive glass. She has a team-high 23 blocks to her credit as well.

All-Time Series (vs. William Peace)
(William Peace leads 17-6)

PREVIEWING METHODIST: Methodist brings a 5-4 record, which includes a 4-1 mark in USA South action, into the clash with Salem. The Monarchs have won four straight—claiming wins over Salem, N.C. Wesleyan, Virginia Wesleyan and Meredith—since November 30th and are 3-3 on the road this season.

Kiley Hicks (86 points) and Jessica Drake (77) are the primary source of offense for the Monarch offense, which is averaging 59.2 points per game. Hicks is 39-of-78 (50%) from the floor, while Drake leads the way for Methodist from 3-point range, by hitting 19-of-44 (43.2%).

Hicks also has made her presence felt on the glass with a team-high 54 rebounds, grabbing 20 offensive boards along the way. The defense is led by Melissa D'Oleo's 16 steals, who has also handed out a team-high 29 assists.

All-Time Series (vs. Methodist)
(Methodist leads 13-5)