Salem at Methodist | January 13 | March F. Riddle Ctr. | Fayetteville, N.C. | 7 p.m.
Salem at N.C. Wesleyan | January 14 | Everett Gymnasium |Rocky Mount, N.C. | 2:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT (vs. Southern Virginia)
Southern Virginia received three double-digit scoring performances, including 15 each from Abigail Snyder and reserve Alyssa McKrola, as the Knights earned a 78-55 victory in USA South Conference action over Salem at Varsity Gym on Tuesday evening.
Two players topped the double figure point plateau for Salem, Dionne Sampson (14) and Tamsi Echendu (12), while Alize Munn added nine and Cree Bass came through with eight. Salem finished the contest by hitting 18-of-53 (34%) from the floor, capitalizing on 17-of-32 (53.1%) at the free throw line.
Sampson led all Salem shooters by hitting 5-of-14 from the floor, while Echendu converted 6-of-10 at the free throw line to lead the Spirits in that statistical category.
Echendu also climbed the boards for nine rebounds (four offensive), while Sampson highlighted the Spirits' defensive effort with four steals. Munn was also active with two blocks.
Southern Virginia's offense was solid throughout the game, hitting 35-of-71 (49.3%) from the floor, scoring 48 points in the paint.
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THE SPIRITS
Salem continues its five-game in 11-day stretch following its lone home contest in that span, which pitted the Spirits against Southern Virginia.
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 seven-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.
ANALYZING THE SERIES' VERSUS METHODIST, N.C. WESLEYAN
Salem's first stop of the weekend, in Fayetteville, N.C., will complete the regular season series with Monarchs on Friday afternoon.
Methodist owns a 15-5 lead in the all-time series against the Spirits, including a six-game winning streak that dates back to a 71-51 victory at the March F. Riddle Center on February 6, 2019. The Monarchs are 7-3 in the head-to-head series with Salem in Fayetteville, with the last Salem victory coming on January 21, 2018 by a score of 67-53.
The following afternoon, when Salem makes the trek to Rocky Mount, N.C., to face N.C. Wesleyan for the second time in a 10-day stretch, the Spirits will look to end a six-game losing streak to the Battling Bishops.
N.C. Wesleyan is 13-2 when facing Salem, dating back to November 27, 2007, when the two teams met for the first time. The Battling Bishops are 6-1 at Everett Gymnasium against Salem in the series.
SPIRITS STATISTICAL LEADERS
Salem is now six games in to the 2022-23 USA South Conference schedule and senior guard Dionne Sampson is leading the way in scoring with 75 points. Sampson has managed to convert 25-of-80 (31.3%) from the floor against league opposition, including 4-of-17 from beyond the arc, while leading the Spirits in free throws made with 21.
In 13 games this season, Sampson has reached the double-digit scoring mark on 11 occasions. The Burlington, N.C., native has scored double figures in five of six games against league opposition, including a single-game season-high 17 at Brevard on December 3rd.
Alize Munn is second in scoring for Salem in league action with 70 points, while Tamsi Echendu is third with 58. Echendu has been a key factor in the post for Salem with 39 rebounds against league goes, 22 of which have come on the defensive end. Sampson leads the way in steals (17) and Munn tops the unit with four blocks.
LOOKING AT THE MONARCHS
Methodist brings a 9-4 record, which includes a 5-2 mark in USA South Conference play, into Friday's contest with Salem. The Monarchs are 2-2 in their last four contests, claiming wins over both Pfeiffer (65-55) and William Peace (88-53) in the process.
Methodist, who sits in fourth in the league standings, is 6-1 at home this season. Kiley Hicks is one of four Monarchs with 100 points on the season, scoring 177 (13.6 ppg) by virtue of hitting 69-of-143 (48.3%) from the field. Aniyah Tate is second in scoring with 158 points, while Jessica Drake provides the 3-point punch, hitting 26-of-84 from beyond the arc.
Hicks also leads the unit in total rebounds (109), while Tate is the leader in steals (26) and Melissa D'Oleo top the Monarchs in assists (42).
LOOKING AT THE BATTLING BISHOPS
N.C. Wesleyan is currently third in the USA South standings after a six-game winning streak that began on December 16th with a 77-44 victory over Mary Baldwin. That streak will be put on the line when the Battling Bishops face USA South Conference leader Greensboro on Friday evening before N.C. Wesleyan faces Salem on Saturday.
Nadia Simmons guides the offense with 149 points (13.5 ppg) on the season, hitting 61-of-113 (54%) from the floor. She is joined amongst 100-point scorers by both Areina Harris (106) and Kaniya Cromartie (102).
Cromartie provides the Battling Bishops with a solid presence in the middle, grabbing a team-high 86 rebounds (38 offensive), while making 14 blocks along the way. Simmons and Nyesha Best have generated offense for her teammates with 41 and 32 assists, respectively.