Site: Winston-Salem, N.C. / Varsity Gym

Score: Pfeiffer 69, Salem 56

Records: Pfeiffer (4-12, 2-8 USA South) / Salem (1-16, 0-10 USA South)

Next Game: Salem vs. Mary Baldwin| January 25| Varsity Gym | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 6:00 p.m.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Salem basketball trimmed a double-digit Pfeiffer lead inside the final 2:19 of action, slicing the margin to 62-56, before four straight free throws from Alexis Bynum pushed the final margin to 69-56 in a hard-fought game between the two USA South Conference foes.

The Spirits were sparked by a 3-pointer from Cree Bass, which cut the margin to 62-54, along with a driving layup by Minnie Griffin that cut the deficit to six. Tanaesha Ellison added an old-fashioned three-point play, following a layup and a made free throw, before the four Bynum free throws down the stretch to complete the Falcons' victory.

Alize Munn came off the bench to finish with a team-high 18, converting 7-of-8 from the floor along with 4-of-7 at the free throw line. Munn was also active on the glass with nine rebounds, including five offensive. Griffin was also a spark offensively with 11 points, finishing 5-of-14 from the floor, while grabbing four rebounds and making a team-high three blocks. Teammate Dionne Sampson recorded 10 points, knocking down 4-of-6 at the charity stripe along with a pair of 3-pointers.

Tamsi Echendu made her presence felt with 10 rebounds, six on the defensive glass, to go along with eight points. Collectively, Salem finished 20-of-59 (33.9%) from the floor and 13-of-24 (54.2%) at the free throw line. The Spirits closed with 46 rebounds, highlighted by the trio of Echendu, Munn and Savanah Atkins, who hauled in five boards.

FIRST QUARTER
The Spirits closed out the half trailing by a 16-14 margin, despite hitting 5-of-15 (33.3%) from the field and 2-of-5 (40%) from 3-point range. Separated by three points, 8-5, after a Shania Haynes layup, Sampson evened the game at eight with a 3-pointer of her own. The Falcons again grabbed the lead, but a pair of buckets from Alize Munn and Savanah Atkins evened the score at 13.

SECOND QUARTER
Both teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the frame and with a 10-7 advantage, Salem grabbed a 26-21 lead at the intermission. Sampson led all scorers with eight points at the intermission, hitting 2-of-7 from the floor, both from beyond the arc, along with a pair of free throws. Meanwhile, Pfeiffer had the pair of Bynum and Ellison came through with seven points at the break. Salem used an Echendu layup to remain within two, 18-16, early in the second. However, Pfeiffer stretched the margin to five, 22-17, with a Bynum layup. Munn trimmed that margin to three, 24-21, but Pfeiffer closed the half with the final bucket.

THIRD QUARTER
Coming out of the intermission with a five-point lead, Pfeiffer capitalized on a 22-15 scoring advantage, resulting in a 12-point lead. The Falcons put together a 12-5 run, capped off by a series of free throws from Ellison to grab a 36-26 lead. Echendu and Griffin paired up a series of points to trim that margin to six, but the Falcons retaliated with a 12-6 run to close out the half with a 48-36 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER
Griffin and Alize Brooks opened scoring for Salem in the fourth, quickly moving the margin to 50-40, before Munn converted a layup at the 4:34 mark to make for an eight-point margin, 54-46. Pfeiffer moved its lead back to double figures, 62-51, with a layup from Bynum at 2:19.

SALEM QUICK NOTES
-Both Alize Munn (18) and Minnie Griffin (11) reached the double figure scoring mark for Salem off the bench.
-Munn converted 7-of-8 from the floor along with 4-of-7 at the free throw line and closed with nine rebounds (five offensive).
-Griffin was also a spark offensively, finishing 5-of-14 from the floor, while grabbing four rebounds and making a team-high three blocks.
-Dionne Sampson recorded 10 points, knocking down 4-of-6 at the charity stripe along with a pair of 3-pointers. It marks the 15th game this season that Sampson has scored double figure points.
-Collectively, Salem finished 20-of-59 (33.9%) from the floor and 13-of-24 (54.2%) at the free throw line. The Spirits closed with 46 rebounds, highlighted by the trio of Echendu, Munn and Savanah Atkins, who hauled in five boards.