>Site: 
Greensboro, N.C. | Hanes Gym

>Score: 
Greensboro 56, Salem 54

>Records: 
Salem (0-11, 0-5 USA South) / Greensboro (4-8, 2-4 USA South)

>Next Game:
Salem at Southern Virginia| January 15 | Buena Vista, Va. | 7:30 p.m. 

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Greensboro's defense limited Salem to just two points in the final 6:43 of the fourth quarter to earn a 56-54 victory in USA South Conference action when the two teams collided at Hanes Gymnasium on Friday afternoon. Salem was led offensively by the trio of Nicole Hester (19 points / 16 rebounds), Amy Pedroza (18 points) and Anayah Noell (10 points) in the contest. 

Hester posted her fifth consecutive double-double for the Spirits, giving her six on the season, after knocking down 9-of-20 from the floor and hauling in nine of her 16 rebounds on the defensive glass. Hester also blocked five Greensboro shots along the way, tying for the fourth-most single-game blocks in program history. 

In 40 minutes of play, Pedroza was 6-of-17 from the floor, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers, hitting 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. Noell topped the double figure scoring mark behind five field goals, adding five rebounds along the way. 

Salem closed out the game by hitting 22-of-68 (32.4%) from the floor, including two 3-pointers, while converting 8-of-13 (61.5%) from the free throw line. The Spirits held a 30-26 advantage in points in the paint and a 14-8 edge in points off turnovers. 

FIRST QUARTER: The Spirits came out firing, hitting 8-of-15 (53.3%) from the field, establishing a six-point lead at the close of the frame. An old-fashioned three-point play by Hester helped provide Salem with a 7-0 lead at the 8:24 mark. Greensboro retaliated to pull within one, 9-8, following a 3-pointer from Jamirica Everhardt. Noell and Pedroza followed with scores of their own, while Jade Ware knocked down a jumper, resulting in a 14-10 lead. Hester and Pedroza added one field goal each in the final 1:28 to give Salem an 18-12 lead. 

SECOND QUARTER: Salem's offense cooled in the second, managing just 5-of-21 from the floor, but managed to take a 28-23 lead into the intermission. Hester continued her hot shooting, knocking down two attempts inside the first three minutes to extend the Salem advantage to 22-14. Greensboro outscored Salem 7-4 down the stretch, with Salem capping off the quarter with a jumper from Noell, shaving the Spirits' lead to five at the break. 

THIRD QUARTER: The Spirits regained their first quarter form with a 6-of-15 (40%) outing in the fourth, adding five free throws along the way to a 46-43 advantage over three quarters. Pedroza provided the spark for the Salem offense to open the third by single-handedly scoring five points, including a 3-pointer, as the Spirits built a 37-32 lead at the 4:13 mark. Pedroza added six of the next nine points for Salem, including a free throw with 12 seconds left, as the Spirits held a three-point lead entering the fourth. 

FOURTH QUARTER: The five players that made up the Salem offense succumbed to the rigors of the game, hitting just three field goals over the course of the frame. Meanwhile, Greensboro finished 5-of-14 (35.7%) from the floor and knocked down 3-of-4 from the free throw line to complete the victory at home. After Greensboro grabbed the lead for the first time at the 7:49 mark, following a Nakiyah Kelly layup, Pedroza converted a 3-pointer and Ware added a layup and a jumper in succession to give Salem a 52-47 lead with 6:43 left. Greensboro scored seven unanswered, including a layup from Kelly that again provided the lead, and held Salem to just a layup by Hester to complete the victory.