>Site: 
Winston-Salem, N.C. | Varsity Gym

>Score: 
Meredith 64, Salem 55

>Records: 
Salem (0-8, 0-3 USA South) / Meredith (3-6, 1-2 USA South)

>Next Game:
Salem at Sewanee | January 4 | Juhan Gymnasium | 1 p.m. 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Despite being lassoed with just five players, missing two due to health concerns, Salem head coach Danielle Dawson got a maximum effort from her unit, which fell 64-55 to Meredith in USA South Conference action at Varsity Gym on Tuesday afternoon. 

First year Nicole Hester notched her third double-double in the last four games, closing with 15 points and 15 rebounds, to lead the way for the Spirits. Hester was 5-of-11 from the floor and grabbed 11 of her 15 rebounds on the defensive glass. Joining her in double-digit scoring were Anayah Noell and Amy Pedroza, who closed with 13 and 11 points, respectively. 

The Spirits finished 18-of-53 (34%) from the floor, including four 3-pointers along the way. Salem collected 15 points from the free throw line, finishing 15-of-18 (83.3%) as a team. 

Meredith took advantage of 23 points from Danae Hawkins, who finished 8-of-14 from the floor and 6-of-11 at the 3-point line. Meanwhile, teammate Kylie Wade anchored the post with 11 rebounds, including seven defensive. 

FIRST QUARTER: Salem finished off the first half with a 13-12 lead, hitting 4-of-16 from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 at the charity stripe. Pedroza followed up a layup by Jade Ware to provide Salem with a 5-2 lead just over two minutes into the game. After Rylie Wade evened the game at seven, Hester drove home two free throws and Noell added a jumper, extending the Spirits' lead to 11-7 with 2:22 left in the quarter. Rylie Wade would use a series of free throws to pull Meredith even at 11, but Noell countered with two of her own inside the final minute to give the Spirits the one-point advantage.  

SECOND QUARTER: The Spirits maintained their one-point lead at the intermission, 26-25, by virtue of a 5-of-13 shooting performance from the floor. Pedroza quickly extended the Salem lead to four with a 3-pointer, following a pass from Wade, before Hester put the lead at five with a free throw of her own. After witnessing the lead trimmed to one, 19-18, but Pedroza knocked down a timely 3-pointer to push the margin to four. Facing a one-point deficit, Wade knocked down two free throws to give Salem the one-point advantage heading into the break.

THIRD QUARTER: After hitting 4-of-11 from the floor and knocking down two shots from the free throw line, the Spirits fell behind 41-36 at the close of the third quarter. Four points by Hester, along with two each from Noell and Pedroza, stretched the one-point lead to five inside the first four minutes of the third quarter. After a jumper from Pamela Mock, which sliced the lead to three, Hester countered with a jumper of her own to make for a 36-31 Salem lead. Hawkins and Mock combined for five of the Avenging Angels' next seven points, resulting in a two-point lead for the visitors. Hawkins capped off the frame with a 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining as Meredith assumed the five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. 

FOURTH QUARTER: Salem had its most made field goals (six) in a quarter of the game, finishing 6-of-12 (50%), while knocking down 6-of-8 (75%) at the free throw line in the final frame. Noell responded with four points in the first two minutes to keep Salem within striking distance, 43-40, but a trey from Emme Baber stretched the margin to six, 47-41. After Noell sliced through the lane for a layup, drawing Salem to within four, it was a layup by Kylie Wade and a 3-pointer from Paris Bethea that extended the lead to 56-48. Two 3-pointers down the stretch from the combination of Bethea and Hawkins, was enough to counteract conversions from Hester and Maleah Flagler as Meredith secured the victory.