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

Score: Brevard 66, Salem 52

Records: Brevard (15-9, 12-6 USA South) / Salem (3-19, 5-13 USA South)

Next Game: Salem at Greensboro| February 21| Hanes Gym | Greensboro, N.C. | 6:00 p.m.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Salem's Savanah Atkins put the finishing touches on her final appearance at Varsity Gym by scoring a career-high 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds, but it was Lexi Shepard's 21-point performance that helped Brevard earn a 66-52 victory over Salem in the regular season finale for the USA South Conference teams on Saturday, February 18th.

Atkins established her single-game career-high by finishing 5-of-6 from the floor, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and knocking down a free throw. She was also active on the glass with seven rebounds, including three offensive. Teammate Tamsi Echendu joined Atkins in double figure scoring with 10 points, capping off a double-double with 11 rebounds, including six offensive.

Alize Munn was also integral to Salem with 12 rebounds, a single-game career-high, which included nine on the offensive glass. She delivered eight points, hitting four field goals along the way, to go along with two blocks.

Along with Atkins, it marked the final home game for seniors Dionne Sampson and Alize Brooks. Sampson finished the game with six points, four rebounds and four assists. Brooks, who was plagued with foul trouble throughout the contest, logged 14 minutes and emerged with one point, one steal and one rebound.

FIRST QUARTER
Brevard's offense came out firing in the opening frame, hitting 10-of-19 from the floor (52.9%), while draining all five free throw attempts. The Tornados were led by the trio of Calli Wells (six points), Shepard and Makayla Street, who tallied four points each. Salem struggled to find its offensive rhythm, managing just four field goals in the process. Brevard opened the game on a 19-3 run, capped off by a jumper from Olivia Miller, before a driving layup from Christina Battistini provided the fifth Salem point. Salem closed out the frame on a 5-2 run, capped off by a layup from Alize Brooks.

SECOND QUARTER
Salem amped up its defensive efforts, holding Brevard to just six field goals, while converting five of its own. The Spirits were led offensively in the quarter by Echendu, who closed with five points in the quarter and six in the half. Brevard eventually stretched the margin to 36-13, following a pair of free throws by Lexi Shepard at the 5:08 mark. A pair of 3-pointers by Minnie Griffin and Cree Bass, coupled with a three-point play from Echendu trimmed the Tornados' margin to 43-24 at the intermission.

THIRD QUARTER
The Spirits enjoyed their best offensive quarter of the game in the third, outscoring Brevard by an 18-7 margin. Atkins was singlehandedly responsible for nine of the team's 18 points, hitting 4-of-4 from the floor, knocking down a 3-pointer in the process. She also climbed the glass for three rebounds. Facing a 19-point deficit entering the frame, Salem sliced the lead to 49-37 following a layup from Echendu. Atkins tacked on a 3-pointer, trimming the Brevard lead to 49-40 with 1:44, as the two closed the frame separated by a 52-40 margin.

FOURTH QUARTER
Brevard capitalized on seven points each from Lexi Shepard and Olivia Miller to finish 6-of-14 from the floor as it completed its 15th victory of the campaign. Alize Munn was the leading scorer for Salem with four points, hauling in three points. After Brevard assumed a 55-44 lead, Dionne Sampson converted a layup and Munn came through with a bucket to make for a seven-point lead at the 5:20 mark. Brevard stretched the margin back to 10, 58-48, with a timely 3-pointer from Miller. The Tornados closed out the game on an 8-4 run to pick up their second win in the head-to-head series.

SALEM QUICK NOTES
-Savanah Atkins established her single-game season-high by finishing 5-of-6 from the floor, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and knocking down a free throw.
-Tamsi Echendu joined Atkins in double figure scoring with 10 points, capping off a double-double with 11 rebounds, including six offensive.
-Alize Munn was also integral to Salem with 12 rebounds, a single-game career-high, which included nine on the offensive glass.
-In the third, Atkins was singlehandedly responsible for nine of the team's 18 points, hitting 4-of-4 from the floor, knocking down a 3-pointer in the process.