Southern Virginia at Salem | January 10 | Varsity Gym | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 6 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT (vs. Greensboro)
Five players, including four starters, topped double figures in scoring for Greensboro, who prevailed with a 99-62 victory over Salem at Hanes Gym in USA South Conference basketball action on Saturday, January 7th. The Pride were led by Audrey Jennings, who tallied a game-high 22 points, while Salem received solid outings from Tamsi Echendu (16 points) and Cree Bass (15).
After missing the last three games for Salem, Echendu notched her fifth double-digit scoring performance of the season by hitting 7-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-4 at the charity stripe. Bass capped off her second double-digit outing in as many games by converting 5-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc and both free throw attempts.
Alize Brooks was also a double figure scorer for Salem, delivering 11 points by virtue of a 4-of-7 outing that also included four rebounds and two assists. Collectively, the Spirits were 23-of-59 (39%) from the floor, 5-of-14 (35.7%) from beyond the arc and 11-of-16 (68.8%) at the free throw line.
Salem finished the game by hauling in 36 rebounds (22 defensive), with Dionne Sampson leading the way with eight. Sampson missed her ninth straight double-digit scoring performance by one point, closing with nine.
Greensboro finished off the contest by hitting all 10 free throw attempts in the contest, while converting 41-of-78 (52.6%) from the floor. The Pride knocked down seven 3-pointers, including three from Aliyah Whiteside, who closed with 13 points off the bench. Joining Jennings among double-digit starters were Quadijah Moore (18), Ta'Keria Leggette (12) and Karli Mason (10).
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THE SPIRITS
Salem continues its five-game in 11-day stretch with its only home contest in that span, which pits the Spirits against Southern Virginia. The game, set for 6 p.m., completes the season series between the two programs, who met in Buena Vista, Va., on November 29th.
The Spirits return to the road for their next three games, which take place at Methodist (Jan. 13), N.C. Wesleyan (Jan. 14) and Meredith (Jan. 18). Upon completion of the three-game road series, Salem will host four straight games.
LOOKING TO RETURN TO WIN COLUMN IN LEAGUE PLAY
Salem is looking to halt a six-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.
DIVING INTO THE SERIES WITH THE KNIGHTS
Salem will clash with Southern Virginia for the ninth time in program history on Tuesday evening.
The Spirits have hosted seven of those games at Varsity Gym, since the two teams met for the first time on January 26, 2008. However, the Knights own a decisive 7-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 5-1 advantage at Varsity Gym.
Southern Virginia has won the last four head-to-head meetings in the series, a streak that began with a 97-80 victory on January 1, 2018.
The lone victory for Salem came on December 1, 2012, when the Spirits closed out a 59-51 victory in Winston-Salem.
SPIRITS STATISTICAL LEADERS
Four Spirits have eclipsed the 100-point mark in 2022-23, including Dionne Sampson, who leads all Salem scorers with 141 points (11.8 ppg). In 12 games, Sampson is hitting 41-of-143 from the floor and 51-of-69 (73.9%) at the charity stripe for Salem.
Also reaching 100 points for Salem are Alize Munn (120), Cree Bass (108) and most recently, Tamsi Echendu (102). Munn reached the 100-point mark by leading the team in field goals made (53), while Bass has converted the most 3-point field goals (15) in the Salem lineup.
Echendu has been the most efficient shooter for Salem (53%), hitting 35-of-66 from the floor and 32-of-59 at the free throw line. She also recently tied Munn for the team lead in rebounds (64), which includes 33 defensive caroms on the season. Munn has the most blocks (12) for Salem's defense, while Sampson (25) and Bass (22) are among the leaders in steals.
ANALYZING THE KNIGHTS
Southern Virginia is .500 in the 2023 calendar year after opening January with a 77-60 victory over Pfeiffer and suffering a 79-73 setback at the hands of N.C. Wesleyan four days later on January 7th.
While the Knights are 5-7 overall, they own a 4-2 mark in USA South Conference action. The four wins have come over William Peace, Meredith, Pfeiffer and the Spirits, which came on November 29th.
Courtney Olson tops the lineup in scoring with 137 points (12.5 ppg) by virtue of hitting 51-of-130 (39.2%) from the field on the season. Olson has converted 32-of-47 (68.1%) at the free throw line for Southern Virginia along the way. Teammate Addison Newman is second in scoring with 100 points after hitting 36-of-92 (39.1%) from the floor and 11-of-31 (35.5%) from beyond the arc.
Olson has also been a force on the boards with 96 total rebounds, including 62 on the defensive glass. Newman tops the lineup among defenders with 25 steals, with Olson converting a team-high 12 blocks.