Site: Winston-Salem, N.C. / Varsity Gym
Score: Salem 84, Meredith 69
Records: Meredith (7-15, 9-8 USA South) / Salem (3-18, 5-12 USA South)
Next Game: Salem vs. Brevard | February 18| Varsity Gym | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 2:00 p.m.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Salem's duo of Dionne Sampson and Minnie Griffin established single-game season-high, scoring 24 and 22 points, respectively, guiding the Spirits to a decisive 84-69 victory over Meredith in USA South Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
Sampson reached 20 points after hitting 6-of-17 from the floor, along with knocking down 10-of-11 at the free throw line, while Griffin was 9-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range in reserve. The Spirits capped off the game by hitting 28-of-59 (47.5%) from the floor and managed an impressive 20-of-24 (83.3%) outing at the charity stripe. Salem was also 8-of-16 (50%) from 3-point range, with Sampson and Griffin both hitting multiple treys.
Defensively, Alize Munn came through with four blocks, moving her season total to 22, while grabbing six rebounds along the way. Munn was also a key offensive contributor with 11 points, finishing 3-of-9 from the floor and scoring five points at the free throw line. Senior Savanah Atkins climbed the glass for seven rebounds, including five defensive.
Kate Perko highlighted the Meredith lineup with 28 points and 20 rebounds, grabbing 10 rebounds offensively and defensively.
FIRST QUARTER
Salem capped off a solid first quarter of play, highlighted by five points from Cristina Battistini, who came through with a team-best five points after hitting 2-of-3 from the floor and 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Perko countered with nine points for the Avenging Angels, who owned a 15-13 lead at the close of the quarter. The two teams battled through four ties in the first 5:23 of the game, reaching a nine-all deadlock, before Meredith buckets from Perko and Mikayla Thompson established a 13-9 advantage. Minnie Griffin and Sampson accounted for the four Salem points to close out the frame.
SECOND QUARTER
Meredith opened the second quarter on a 7-2 run, which spanned 2:20, opening up a 22-15 advantage following a three-point play from Rylie Wade that was capped off by a free throw. Sampson scored four of the next six Salem points, slicing the deficit to 26-20, but Meredith answered with five straight points to move in front by eleven. Sampson netted five of her nine second quarter points and Bass added four points in the final 3:07 of the quarter to make for a 35-32 halftime score. The Spirits capitalized on 6-of-16 (37.5%) shooting in the frame, while Meredith was 8-of-19 (42.1%) from the floor. Salem was also successful on 6-of-8 (75%) free throws.
THIRD QUARTER
Salem quickly erased a three-point halftime deficit with a series of buckets to open the third, including a 3-pointer from Cree Bass that resulted in a 39-35 lead. Timely scores by Battistini and Sampson kept Salem in front, 43-41, before a layup by De'ja Morgan evened the tilt at 43. After reaching a climatic 48-all tie, Griffin and Atkins came through with 3-pointers for Salem to stretch the margin to six, 54-48. The Spirits would close out the quarter with a six-point lead, 61-55.
FOURTH QUARTER
Salem's offensive attack, which hit 6-of-11 (54.5%) in the fourth, coupled with sound defense that limited the Avenging Angels to 4-of-12 (33.3%) shooting from the floor resulted in a 23-14 fourth quarter outburst for the Spirits. After grabbing a 67-58 lead in the fourth, following a jumper from Alize Brooks, Meredith briefly trimmed the margin to six. However, five points from Griffin during an 18-second stretch putched the margin to 76-63 in favor of the Spirits. Meredith managed just four points over the final 3:42 of the contest as Salem secured its third win of the season.
SALEM QUICK NOTES
-Dionne Sampson reached 20 points after hitting 6-of-17 from the floor, along with knocking down 10-of-11 at the free throw line, while Minnie Griffin was 9-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range in reserve.
-The Spirits capped off the game by hitting 28-of-59 (47.5%) from the floor and managed an impressive 20-of-24 (83.3%) outing at the charity stripe.
-Salem was also 8-of-16 (50%) from 3-point range, with Sampson and Griffin both hitting multiple treys.
-Alize Munn came through with four blocks, moving her season total to 22, while grabbing six rebounds along the way.
-Senior Savanah Atkins climbed the glass for seven rebounds, including five defensive.
-Salem's offensive attack, which hit 6-of-11 (54.5%) in the fourth, coupled with sound defense that limited the Avenging Angels to 4-of-12 (33.3%) shooting from the floor resulted in a 23-14 fourth quarter outburst for the Spirits.