Site: Winston-Salem, N.C. / Varsity Gym
Score: Methodist 72, Salem 65
Records: Methodist (3-1, 1-1 USA South) / Salem (1-4, 0-1 USA South)
Next Game: Southern Virginia vs. Salem / Tuesday, November 29 / 6 p.m.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A fourth quarter surge, which resulted in a 24-8 scoring differential by Methodist, helped the Monarchs earn a 72-65 victory at Varsity Gym on Tuesday evening in a USA South Conference clash with Salem.
The Spirits were led individually by first-year standout Minnie Griffin, who poured in a game-high 23 points, as well as Tamsi Echendu, who grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Griffin came off the bench to hit 9-of-12 from the floor, including a trio of 3-pointers, as she became the third different Spirit in 2022-23 to score at least 20 points in reserve. Echendu grabbed 10 of her 12 rebounds on the defensive glass, leading the way for a Spirits unit that tallied 37 total rebounds.
Dionne Sampson also had a solid performance with 11 points, hitting 5-of-14 from the floor along the way, and four assists.
Methodist had four players in double figure scoring, including Kiley Hicks and Aniyah Tate, who notched 14 points apiece. Jillian Peterson added 13 points and Jessica Drake came through with 10 points.
FIRST QUARTER
The Spirits opened the game strong, establishing a 10-3 advantage at the 4:50 mark of the frame following a jumper by Alize Munn. After a Cree Bass free throw, which stretched the margin to 11-5, Methodist closed out the quarter by scoring four of the final six points, to trim the lead to 13-9. Salem finished off the first quarter by knocking down 5-of-12 (41.7%) from the field and 3-of-6 (50%) at the free throw line.
SECOND QUARTER
Methodist came out of the break strong, grabbing a 16-15 lead following a jumper by Aniyah Tate at the 7:11 mark. The Monarchs defense, coupled with a 3-pointer from Jessica Drake, stretched the lead to 23-15. Salem responded with a layup by Echendu and a 3-pointer from Sampson, to trim the deficit to 23-20. Griffin scored six of the final eight points for the Spirits to keep the offensive attack moving, as Methodist owned a 32-28 lead at the intermission.
THIRD QUARTER
The Spirits had their highest scoring quarter (29 points) of the season in the third quarter, hitting 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the field and 3-of-4 from the 3-point line. Griffin led the hot shooting by scoring 15 points on a 6-of-7 performance from the field, knocking down three 3-pointers along the way. Facing a 37-31 deficit at the 8:14 mark, the Spirits went on an 11-4 run that was capped off by pair of Munn free throws to assume the one-point lead. Griffin knocked down a 3-pointer just over six minutes later, stretching the margin to 48-44 before driving home a layup to help Salem move in front by six. Savanah Atkins closed out the frame with a buzzer beating layup to make for a 57-48 contest.
FOURTH QUARTER
Methodist amped up its defensive efforts and in just 1:27 of the fourth quarter, evened the game at 57-all following a layup by Hicks. Alize Munn knifed home a layup to keep Salem in front, 59-57, but the Monarchs answered with an 8-0 run that resulted in a four-point advantage. Leading 71-63 at the 1:49 mark, following a jumper by Peterson, Methodist would surrender just two points down the stretch to pick up their second USA South win of the slate.
SALEM NOTES
-The Spirits were led individually by first-year standout Minnie Griffin, who poured in a game-high 23 points, as well as Tamsi Echendu, who grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
-Cree Bass scored 25 points off the bench for Salem in season-opener against Warren Wilson (Nov. 8) and Tamsi Echendu netted 22 in reserve four days later against Randolph.
-The 12-rebound performance by Echendu marks her second double-digit rebounding performance of the slate.
-Echendu grabbed 10 of her 12 rebounds on the defensive glass, leading the way for a Spirits unit that tallied 37 total rebounds.
-Methodist extends its lead in the all-time series to 15-5. The Monarchs have now won their last six contest in the head-to-head series.