WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – William Peace used a pair of Myla Barnes free throws down the stretch to help hold off a hard-charging Salem squad by a 70-65 margin in USA South Conference basketball action between the two in Varsity Gym on Friday, January 7th.
Leading by four points entering the final frame, the Pacers pieced together a 10-3 run over 6:19, capped off by a Shelby Wolfe free throw to assume a 61-50 lead. Alize Brooks responded with four points for Salem and Dionne Sampson drained a 3-pointer, following a pass from Cree Bass, to slice the margin to 63-57 at 1:44. Bass followed with a 3-pointer of her own 30 seconds later, resulting in a 65-60 score. Salem eventually drew within three, 68-65, when Sampson hit a straight away 3-pointer with 23 seconds left. However, it was free throws by Banks that secured the victory for the Pacers.
The Pacers (3-8, 2-3 USA South) capitalized on three double-digit scoring performances by Stephanie Chandler (18 points), Pamela Mock (17) and Cierra Baker (11) to earn the victory. That trio was primarily responsible for leading William Peace to a 26-of-61 (42.6%) performance from the floor, knocking down five 3-pointers along the way.
Wolfe capped off the game with a team-high eight rebounds, while finishing with eight points for the Pacers. Chandler dished out a team-best three assists.
Salem was led on offense by the combination of Sampson (14 points), Bass (12) and Brooks (11). Sampson took advantage of a 5-for-12 outing, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers along the way, while finishing a perfect 2-of-2 at the free throw line. She also snagged six rebounds, including two on the offensive glass.
Bass was also 5-of-12 from the floor, hitting two long distance treys, and responded with five rebounds and a game-high four assists. Brooks capped off double figure scoring by hitting 4-of-9 from the field, draining a 3-pointer along the way, and finishing 2-of-2 at the line. Teammate Alize Munn led the way with seven rebounds (five defensive), along with nine points.
Salem finished 25-of-55 (45.5%) from the field and was 5-of-17 (29.4%) from beyond the arc. The Spirits capped off the game by knocking down 10-of-12 (83.3%) at the free throw line.
The Spirits established 16-11 lead early in the first quarter after finishing 8-of-14 from the floor and limiting William Peace to just 3-of-11 shooting in the process. Munn led all Salem scorers with six points, while both Savanah Atkins and Bass added four points apiece.
William Peace stormed back to knot the game at 16-all early in the second, forcing the first of three ties, before consecutive baskets by Brooks and Bass extended the Salem lead to 24-20 at the 6:26 mark. Sampson eventually stretched the margin to eight, following a jumper following a pass from Lauren Privette. Bass followed with a timely 3-pointer from the corner, making for a 33-26 contest, but the Pacers scored five of the final six points to make for a 34-31 Salem lead at the intermission.
A 20-point third quarter by the Pacers, which began with a 9-2 run in the first 2:11 of the frame, resulted in a 51-47 lead. William Peace's biggest lead of the quarter was six, which came on a driving layup by Chandler at the 8:02 mark. Salem responded to that six-point deficit with buckets by Sydney Bowen, Munn and Kyana Thomas, before Sampson knocked down a layup of her own to make for a 42-42 deadlock. Privette and Brooks accounted for the final five Salem points of the quarter.
Salem returns to the court on Saturday, January 8th, when the Spirits host Methodist at 4 p.m. in Varsity Gym.
