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

Score: Salem 70, Mary Baldwin 53

Records: Mary Baldwin (1-17, 1-10 USA South) / Salem (2-16, 1-10 USA South)

Next Game: Salem vs. Greensboro | January 28 | Varsity Gym | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 2:00 p.m.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Dionne Sampson came through with a game-high 22 points while Minnie Griffin added 20 points to help lead Salem to its first USA South Conference win of the season by a 70-53 margin over Mary Baldwin at Varsity Gym on Wednesday evening.

Joining the pair in double figures was Alize Munn, who scored 12 points in 29 minutes off the bench. Sampson knocked down 50 percent of her shots from the floor (9-18), while converting 4-of-6 at the free throw line. She was also active defensively with seven steals, which ties for the ninth-most in a single-game in Salem history.

Griffin, like Munn, reached double figures off the bench for Salem. Griffin was successful on 8-of-20 field goals, 3-of-4 free throws and reached the 20-point plateau for the second time this season. She also climbed the glass for seven rebounds, tying Munn for the team-high in that category.

Cree Bass was also a key contributor for Salem with six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Cristina Battistini closed out the game with a solid performance with six rebounds, four points and four steals.

Salem knocked down 27-of-76 (35.5%) from the field in the contest along with 14-of-19 (73.7%) at the free throw line. The biggest differential on the court came in steals, where Salem had a 26-5 advantage. The 26 steals marked the second-most in a league game for Salem in program history, six off the record established against Agnes Scott on January 11, 2014.

FIRST QUARTER
The two teams were evenly matched throughout the opening phases of the first quarter, closing the frame knotted at 13-all. Salem converted 6-of-19 from the floor, along with a free throw, while Mary Baldwin knocked down 6-of-12 from the field. The Spirits rebounded from a tough start, where they trailed 6-0 at the 5:36 mark, to grab an 11-10 lead following a jumper from Griffin with 2:43 remaining. Sampson stretched the margin to three, 13-10, but Mary Baldwin closed with the final three points of the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
Salem capitalized on a 19-10 scoring advantage in the second, assuming a 32-23 lead at the intermission. The Spirits drained seven field goals, while adding 4-of-6 at the free throw line, and Mary Baldwin countered with 5-of-12 shooting. Sampson led the way in scoring for both teams, closing with nine at the intermission after finishing 4-of-9 and forcing three steals. Cree Bass was also integral in the lineup with four rebounds, three assists and three steals by the half. A'Cetta Farrait knocked down a jumper to give the Fighting Squirrels a 19-15 lead, but consecutive buckets from Sampson and Alize Brooks evened the game at 19. Salem closed the half on a 12-2 run, capped off by a Sampson layup in the waning stages.

THIRD QUARTER
Led by Griffin's 10-point scoring performance in the third, Salem owned a 53-38 lead through three quarters. Griffin capped off the frame by hitting 3-of-6 from the field along with 3-of-4 at the free throw line. Four points from Sampson along with a timely shot from Battistini resulted in a 39-23 lead for the Spirits in the first 1:15 of the third quarter. Mary Baldwin would eventually trim the deficit to 12, trailing 44-32, but a series of Griffin free throws pushed the margin to 48-35 with 1:22 left. Griffin drove home the final points of the frame on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to make for a 53-38 advantage.

FOURTH QUARTER
Salem's offense continued to click on all cylinders and with a pair of Bass free throws the Spirits owned a 59-40 lead at the 8:04 mark. After a Griffin layup pushed the margin to 21, a run by the Fighting Squirrels trimmed the deficit to 62-47. Salem's double-digit lead would not be in doubt throughout the remainder of the quarter as the Spirits closed out their second win at home and first of league play under head coach Sharee Boyd.

SALEM QUICK NOTES
-Dionne Sampson scored 22 points in the victory over Mary Baldwin, giving her 596 career points. She was also active defensively with seven steals, which ties for the ninth-most in a single-game in Salem history.
-Minnie Griffin was successful on 8-of-20 field goals, 3-of-4 free throws and reached the 20-point plateau for the second time this season.
-Cristina Battistini closed out the game with a solid performance with six rebounds, four points and four steals.
-Cree Bass was also a key contributor for Salem with six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
- The biggest differential on the court came in steals, where Salem had a 26-5 advantage. The 26 steals marked the second-most in a league game for Salem in program history, six off the record established against Agnes Scott on January 11, 2014