Site: Fayetteville, N.C. / March F. Riddle Center

Score: Methodist 73, Salem 48

Records: Methodist (10-4, 6-2 USA South) / Salem (1-13, 0-7 USA South)

Next Games: Salem at N.C. Wesleyan | January 14 | Everett Gymnasium |Rocky Mount, N.C. | 2:00 p.m.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Tamsi Echendu notched a team-high 15 points while teammate Sarah Nelson poured in a single-game career-high 13 points, but it was Methodist's trio of Kiley Hicks (17 points), Aniyah Tate (12) and Anessa Irizarry (11) that helped catapult the Monarchs to their 10th win of the season with a 73-48 victory at the March F. Riddle Center on Friday evening.

Echendu reached double-digit scoring by hitting 3-of-4 from the floor and 9-of-17 from the free throw line, sharing the team lead in total rebounds (eight) with Dionne Sampson and Christina Battistini. Both Battistini and Sampson hauled in five defensive rebounds apiece.

Nelson topped the double figure plateau after converting 4-of-12 from the floor, including three from beyond the arch, while grabbing four rebounds and forcing two steals. Sampson rounded out double-digit scorers for Salem by netting 10 points.

Battistini's presence in the paint helped Salem tally 38 total rebounds, two shy of Methodist.

FIRST QUARTER
The Spirits established a 19-12 lead through the first quarter of the game, hitting 7-of-14 from the field and 2-of-5 (40%) from 3-point range. After falling behind 8-4, following a 3-pointer off the hand of Jessica Drake, the combination of Echendu at the charity stripe and Nelson from long distance provided the spark for a 7-0 run that gave Salem the three-point advantage. Sampson knifed through the lane for a layup and Nelson added a 3-pointer to help provide Salem the seven-point lead through one quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
The Monarchs came out strong in the second quarter, outscoring Salem 21-4 in the frame, by hitting 9-of-19 (47.4%) from the floor. Meanwhile, the Spirits were unable to generate a field goal in the frame. All four Salem points came at the free throw line, as Methodist grabbed a 33-23 lead at the intermission.

THIRD QUARTER
Salem broke the field goal drought at the 6:17 mark of the third quarter, following a layup by Sampson, remaining within 10 of the Monarchs. Sampson completed an old-fashion three-point play, scoring a layup and a free throw, to slice the margin to seven, 38-31, as Salem pressured for the lead. After trimming the lead to six, 40-34, on a Nelson trey, the Spirits managed just five points down the stretch of the third to trail 50-39.

FOURTH QUARTER
Methodist again found its offensive rhythm, opening the quarter on a 13-4 run, capped off by a jumper from Alyssa Shazer at the 5:33 mark. Tate extended the margin to 24 points after a Nelson jumper at the 3:49 mark, as the Monarchs led 69-45. Battistini capped off Salem scoring with a 3-pointer of her own with just over a minute remaining.

SALEM QUICK NOTES
-Sarah Nelson topped the double figure plateau after converting 4-of-12 from the floor, including three from beyond the arch, while grabbing four rebounds and forcing two steals.
-Tamsi Echendu reached double-digit scoring by hitting 3-of-4 from the floor and 9-of-17 from the free throw line.
-Echendu shared the team lead in total rebounds (eight) with Dionne Sampson and Christina Battistini. Both Battistini and Sampson hauled in five defensive rebounds apiece.
-Dionne Sampson rounded out double-digit scorers for Salem by netting 10 points.
-Sampson has reached double figure scoring in 12 of 14 games this season.