Next Game: Salem vs. Brevard | February 18| Varsity Gym | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 2:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT (vs. Meredith)
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.
SAMPSON NAMED USA SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Salem senior guard Dionne Sampson capped off her ninth straight double-digit point performance, which resulted in a single-game season-high 24 points in an 84-69 victory over Meredith, by becoming the first player in program history to capture USA South Player of the Week in an announcement from the league office on Monday, February 13th.
Sampson was an integral part of Salem's second half rally that resulted in the 15-point victory over the Avenging Angels by scoring a team-high 24 points, while amassing five rebounds, three assists and three steals. The Burlington, N.C., native finished 6-of-17 from the field, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range, and was 10-of-11 at the charity stripe to reach double figures for the ninth straight time and 19th time this season.
Sampson, who moved into Top-10 in program history in scoring earlier this month, has topped the 20-point mark in her career on three occasions. Her single-game career-high came one year ago against William Peace, when she tallied 30 points in a 92-83 win over the Pacers. On January 25, 2023, Sampson established her then season-high in points with a 22-point performance in a 70-53 win over Mary Baldwin. Saturday's performance against Meredith surpassed that mark as Salem posted the 10th-most points (84) in a USA South Conference game in program history.
Sampson became the first player in program history to earn Player of the Week honors from the USA South. Five different players, including Satavia Taylor (7x), Shamaz Demerson (3x), Kelsey Rector (2x), Quntashea Lewis (2x) and Jasmine Shabazz accounted for the 15 Player of the Week honors earned by Salem during its time in the Great South Athletic Conference.
2022-23 REGULAR SEASON FINALE
Saturday afternoon marks the final game of the 2022-23 regular season for Salem as well as Senior Day for the trio of Savanah Atkins, Alize Brooks and Dionne Sampson.
ATKINS CAREER CAPSULE: A two-sport athlete, who also plays on the softball team, Savanah joined the basketball program in the 2021-22 campaign. In two seasons, Savanah has tallied 202 points, grabbed 136 rebounds, converted 30 steals and dished out 17 assists.
BROOKS CAREER CAPSULE: Alize enters her final regular season game ranked 13th in program history in total points with 518 after hitting 185 field goals, including 32 3-pointers, along with 116 free throws in her four-year career at Salem.
SAMPSON CAREER CAPSULE: She is one of just five players in program history to score 600 points, grab 200 rebounds, hand out 100 assists and force 100 steals along with Zy Henderson, Quntashea Lewis, Kelsey Rector and MiKayla Seivers.
Salem will continue the 2022-23 season in the first round of the USA South Conference Tournament, facing rival Greensboro on Tuesday, February 21st at Hanes Gymnasium.
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN VERSUS BREVARD
Saturday's clash with Brevard marks the second time in program history that the two teams have met on the hardwoods.
In the first meeting, which came on December 3rd, Salem junior sharpshooter Alize Munn scored a career-high 25 points, hitting 11-of-17 from the floor, while grabbing five rebounds, but Brevard countered with five players in double figures, including Calli Wells, who scored 22, to help the Tornadoes claim a 96-84 victory at Boshamer Gymnasium.
Munn, led all scorers in the contest, logged 35 minutes and finished 11-of-17 from the floor and was successful on 3-of-4 at the free throw line. She also climbed the glass for five rebounds, pulling down four on the defensive end. Tamsi Echendu narrowly missed her second 20-point game of the slate, finishing with 19 points after converting 7-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-7 at the charity stripe.
Dionne Sampson reached double figure scoring for Salem, hitting 6-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-8 free throws, while handing out four assists and forcing four steals.
Salem closed the game by hitting 32-of-65 (49.2%) from the floor, including three 3-pointers, and knocking down 17-of-23 at the free throw line.
Wells' 22-point outing led the way offensively for the Tornados, who were 33-of-80 (41.3%) from the field and 24-of-28 (85.7%) at the free throw line.
SPIRITS STATISTICAL LEADERS
Entering the final weekend of regular season action, senior Dionne Sampson leads all Salem scorers with 279 points (13.3 ppg), while Alize Munn is second on the unit with 210 points (11.1). Sampson sits atop the team in points due in large part to hitting 86-of-287 from the floor and another 92-of-133 at the free throw line. She has been successful in 69.2 percent of her free throw attempts on the season, a team-best for Salem.
Munn tops all scorers with field goals made (87) and is second in efficiency, converting 48.3 percent of her 180 total shots. She has also made an impact in the post with 109 rebounds, second-most on the team, along with a team-high 22 blocks.
Tamsi Echendu has provided Salem with an all-around solid performance this season, delivering the third-most points (181) and ranking first on the unit in rebounds (131), including 68 on the defensive glass.
Cree Bass, who is fourth in scoring for Salem with 168 points, has knocked down a team-best 24 3-pointers this season, while Minnie Griffin is fifth in points scored with 146. Senior Alize Brooks is also among 100-point scorers with 113 points to her credit, hitting 40 field goals and 27 free throws in the process.
ANALYZING BREVARD'S SEASON IN 2022-23
Brevard enters its final game of the regular season with a 1-3 mark in February after dropping a 92-62 decision to Greensboro on Wednesday evening. The Tornados are 14-9 overall and own an 11-6 mark in league action, earning six wins away from Boshamer Gym this season.
Makenna Perkins tops the Brevard team in scoring with 315 points (13.7 ppg) and is one of six players on the roster with at least 100 points on the season. She has knocked down 111-of-274 field goals (40.5%), including 17 from 3-point range and another 76 at the free throw line. Teammate Olivia Miller has been a solid complement player to Perkins, scoring 234 points (10.5 ppg) on the season, while converting 108-of-218 (49.5%) of her field goals.
Perkins also ranks atop the list for Brevard rebounders with 190 (122 defensive) on the slate. A solid all-around defender on the blocks, Perkins has 20 blocks to her credit this season. Naliyah Boyce is second on the team with 117 rebounds and 17 blocks, making a formidable post presence for the Tornados. Lexi Shepard and Miller have anchored the backcourt with 65 and 52 assists, respectively, for Brevard.
