Salem at Greensboro | January 7 | Hanes Gym | Greensboro, N.C. | 4 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT (vs. N.C. Wesleyan)
N.C. Wesleyan received double-digit scoring efforts from the trio of Kaniya Cromartie (19), Nadia Simmons (16) and Kayrisma Harrison (14), while holding off a pair of 14-point performances by Salem's Cree Bass and Dionne Sampson to claim a 77-48 victory at Varsity Gym in USA South Conference action Wednesday evening in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Bass reached double figures for the first time since scoring 25 in the season-opener against Warren Wilson, hitting 5-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-7 from beyond the arc. Sampson converted 3-of-19 from the field along with 7-of-9 at the free throw line, extending her double-digit scoring streak to seven games.
Alize Brooks narrowly missed double figures, emerging with eight points after finishing 4-of-10 from the floor. Cristina Battistini capped off the game with six rebounds, a team-high for Salem, snagging four on the defensive glass.
One of the biggest differences in the victory for N.C. Wesleyan came on the glass, where they finished with a 71-26 advantage. The Battling Bishops had a 32-7 edge in offensive rebounds, while grabbing 39 on the defensive glass.
ROAD GAMES GALORE
In an 11-day span, from January 11 through January 18, Salem will play four of their five games on the road against USA South Conference opposition. The only home game for the Spirits in that span will take place on January 10th against Southern Virginia at 6 p.m.
After the extensive road stretch, Salem will return to Varsity Gym for four games between January 21st and January 31st.
SERIES RECAP WITH GREENSBORO
Greensboro has won 15 of 16 head-to-head meetings against Salem since the two teams first collided on January 4, 2008.
The Pride are a perfect 8-0 when facing Salem at Hanes Gymnasium on the Greensboro College campus. The lone win for the Spirits came on December 8, 2013 by a 60-59 margin. Since that point, Greensboro has won 12 straight, including six at Hanes Gym.
LOOKING TO RETURN TO WIN COLUMN IN LEAGUE PLAY
Salem is looking to halt a five-game losing streak in USA South Conference action that dates back to February 16, 2022. The last win against a league opponent for the Spirits came on four days prior to the 106-55 setback to Southern Virginia, when Salem defeated William Peace 92-83 in overtime.
In that clash against William Peace, Dionne Sampson was the catalyst for a Salem offense that had five players reach double figures Sampson became the first player since Tyler Davenport (Feb. 4, 2018) to eclipse the 30-point mark for Salem and just the seventh player in the NCAA history of the program with a 30-point outing.
Sampson not only established a career-high in points, but she also set a career-high mark for steals (12), capping off her first double-double and joining Tyler Davenport and Tamsi Echendu as the only players in 2021-22 to record a double-double. She was joined in double figures by Davenport and Alize Brooks, who tallied 15 apiece, Alize Munn (11) and Echendu (10). The victory moves Salem to 4-19 overall and 3-14 in USA South play.
Sampson finished 13-of-24 (54.2%) from the floor in her performance, knocking down 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. She highlighted a Salem lineup that finished 37-of-89 (41.6%) from the floor and 15-of-25 (60%) from the free throw line. The Spirits also owned a 52-44 advantage on the glass, grabbing 31 defensive rebounds.
STATISTICAL LEADERS FOR THE SPIRITS
Salem's offense is led by the tandem of Dionne Sampson (132 points) and Alize Munn (113). Sampson tops the team in scoring due in large part to hitting 50-of-67 (74.6%) at the free throw line, while converting 38-of-132 from the floor.
Sampson has catapulted herself into the scoring lead for Salem with seven consecutive double-digit scoring performances. The streak began with an 11-point outing against Methodist (Nov. 22) and included a single-game season-high 17 points at Brevard on December 3rd.
Munn is responsible for the most field goals on the unit this season (50), adding 13 from the free throw line.
The top 3-point marksman on the team is Cree Bass, who has knocked down 12-of-48 from beyond the arc, while Minnie Griffin is second by hitting 7-of-20 from long distance.
Munn became the season leader in rebounds (59) with two against N.C. Wesleyan on Wednesday evening. Munn has climbed the glass for a team-high 35 offensive rebounds this season while making 12 blocks along the way, a team-high. That is one more than Tamsi Echendu's 58 rebounds, who has 26 on the offensive glass.
Sampson and Bass have integrated their teammates the most in the Salem offense this season, handing out 31 and 27 assists, respectively. Sampson has also made her presence felt defensively with 22 steals, a team-high.
BREAKING DOWN THE PRIDE
Greensboro has lived up to its billing as the USA South Conference Preseason favorite to win the league title this season. Both setbacks for Greensboro this season have come at home, where The Pride are 3-2.
The Pride are 10-2 entering the weekend and are riding a seven-game winning streak. That streak began with a 78-63 victory over Pfeiffer on December 6th, which came three days after a 91-73 setback at Hanes Gymnasium to Christopher Newport (91-73).
Five players have at least 100 points on the season for Greensboro, including Audrey Jennings who leads all scorers with 178 points (14.8 ppg). Teammate Ta'Keria Legette is second with 150 points (13.6 ppg) to her credit and Quadijah Moore is third on the unit with 130 (10.8).
Aijah Palmore has anchored the post for Greensboro with a team-high 109 rebounds (9.1 rpg), along with six blocks. Moore has added a shot blocking presence for The Pride with a team-best 22.
Lauren Livingstone has piloted the Greensboro offense, which is averaging 78.4 points per contest, with 54 assists. Meanwhile, the stingy Pride defense, which is allowing opponents just 62.6 points per game, is led in steals by Leggette, who has 45 to her credit.