>Site: 
Roanoke, Va. 

>Score: 
Agnes Scott 68, Salem 60

>Records: 
Salem (0-4) / Agnes Scott (1-4)

>Next Game:
Salem vs. Pfeiffer | November 26 | Varsity Gym | 6 p.m. 
 
ROANOKE, Va. — A strong opening first half, which separated Agnes Scott by nine points, proved to be the difference as the Scotties emerged with a 68-60 win over Salem in hardwoods action at the All-Women's Tip-Off Classic hosted by Hollins University on Saturday. 

The Spirits, who closed out a four-game road stretch to open the season, were led offensively by the trio of Amy Pedroza (17 points), Nicole Hester (14) and Cree Bass (10). Bass, who ran her double-digit scoring stretch to four straight. 

Pedroza was 7-of-16 from the floor, along with knocking down 3-of-4 at the free throw line, to go along with eight rebounds and four steals. Hester was also efficient in the game, hitting 4-of-6 from the field and 6-of-13 at the charity stripe while grabbing nine rebounds and forcing two steals. Cristina Battistini led Salem in the post with 10 rebounds while she added seven points. 

FIRST QUARTER: Both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm in the opening quarter, hitting just two field goals along the way, as Agnes Scott held a 9-8 lead after 10 minutes. The biggest difference came at the free throw line, where the Scotties knocked down five attempts. 

SECOND QUARTER: Agnes Scott pushed the lead to nine points by the intermission, 28-19, after hitting 5-of-9 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. A long distance 3-pointer off the hand of Anissa Brailsford at just over the midway point of the second quarter pushed the Scotties' lead to 18-9. Jade Ware answered with a layup and a jumper from Bass helped Salem trim the margin to seven. After Ryley Jolley stretched the Agnes Scott lead to 11, 24-13, Ware countered with two free throws and Pedroza came through with a jumper to pull Salem within nine as the two headed into the intermission. 

THIRD QUARTER: The two units were evenly matched throughout the third quarter, netting 23 points apiece. The frame began with a free throw by Pedroza and a series of conversions by Hester trimmed the margin into single digits, 34-25, for Salem just two minutes into the quarter. Ivey Portis capped off a run for Agnes Scott that stretched the margin to 13, but it was the combination of Pedroza and Hester that again helped Salem's offense with a rally, which trimmed the margin to nine. Battistini knifed through the lane for a pair of layups that resulted in a five-point deficit, 43-38. However, an 8-4 run to close out the half resulted in a 51-42 score through three. 

FOURTH QUARTER: The back-and-forth battle ensued in the opening stages of the fourth, but Pedroza single handedly scored four points to pull the Spirits to within six, 56-50. The Scotties scored six of the next eight points, but Nykerah Engle answered with two free throws of her own to make for an eight-point margin. Battistini converted a 3-pointer, following a pass from Bass, and Hester knocked down a free throw to pull Salem's deficit to four, 62-58. The Scotties scored six of the final eight points of the game, holding off a Salem charge to earn the victory.