>Opponents: 
Salem at Southern Virginia| January 15 | Buena Vista, Va. | 7:30 p.m. 
William Peace vs. Salem | January 18 | Hanes Gym | 2:00 p.m. 

>SPIRITS RETURN HOME FOR CLASH WITH WILLIAM PEACE
The Salem basketball team completes its four-game road stretch with a clash against Southern Virginia on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m., before returning to Varsity Gym to host William Peace in a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday afternoon. 

>WILLIAM PEACE HOLDS OFF SALEM 64-53 IN RALEIGH
Salem first year Nicole Hester capped off her fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and 17 rebounds, which included 12 defensive rebounds, but it was a 20-point fourth quarter by William Peace that proved to be the difference as the Pacers earned a 64-53 win in Raleigh on Tuesday evening in USA South Conference action. 

Hester, who has now notched four consecutive double-doubles, converted 8-of-16 from the field and 3-of-7 at the free throw line. She snapped down 12 of her 17 rebounds on the defensive glass. Joining Hester in double figure points for the Spirits were Amy Pedroza (13) and Anayah Noell (10). 

Pedroza finished off her double-digit performance by knocking down 5-of-13 from the floor, grabbing three rebounds and dishing out two assists. Noell's double-digit outing came as she converted 5-of-15 from the floor and snagged six rebounds. Both Maleah Flagler and Jade Ware had seven rebounds apiece.

>GREENSBORO EDGES SPIRITS 56-54 IN HEARTBREAKER
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, January 7th. 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. 

>HESTER NAMED USA SOUTH CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
After notching back-to-back double doubles against USA South Conference rivals William Peace and Greensboro last week, Salem first year Nicole Hester was recognized by the league office as its USA South Rookie of the Week on Monday afternoon. 

Hester closed out the week by hitting 17-of-36 (47.2%) from the floor and 4-of-8 (50%) at the free throw line in two games for the Spirits. Along the way she grabbed 33 rebounds, including 21 on the defensive glass, and made six blocks to become the fourth different Salem player to capture Rookie of the Week honors in the USA South. 

Hester extended her double-double streak, which dates back to a December 17th clash with league foe Methodist, to five straight games for the Spirits. Last week, in 40 minutes against William Peace, Hester finished the game by knocking down 8-of-16 field goals and 3-of-7 free throws, to close with 19 points. She was also responsible for 17 rebounds, including 12 on the defensive glass, notching her fifth double-double of the season. 

Three days later, in a league clash with Greensboro, the Burlington, N.C., native emerged with 19 points and 16 rebounds in a two-point setback for the Spirits. Hester finished 9-of-20 (45%) from the field and was responsible for 16 rebounds (nine defensive) along with five blocks. The five blocks placed her in a seven-way tie for fourth-most single-game blocks in program history. She is the first Spirit since Lauren Privette to tally at least five blocks in a game. Privette set the mark against Bridgewater on December 29, 2021. 

Hester now has six double-double outings for Salem this season, the most since Sabrina Shepherd tallied six during the 2017-18 campaign. Hester came through with her first (12 points / 12 rebounds) in a battle with Pfeiffer (November 26). She began a streak of five straight against Methodist (December 17), where she tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds. During that stretch she has posted double-doubles versus Meredith (15 points / 15 rebounds), Sewanee (25 / 14) and most recently William Peace and Greensboro. 

Hester joins the trio of Tamsi Echendu, Alize Munn and Minnie Griffin as the only players to capture USA South Rookie of the Week honors in Salem basketball history. Echendu was the first recipient of the honor and November 29, 2021. Munn earned the distinction on February 22, 2022. Griffin is a two-time honoree, earning the honor on November 28, 2022, and later that season on January 30, 2023.

>HESTER'S MOVES HER DOUBLE-DOUBLE TALLY TO SIX, FIVE CONSECUTIVE
With her sixth double-double of the 2024-25 campaign, Nicole Hester became the first Spirit since Sabrina Shepherd to notch six double double's in a single season. 

Hester, who has tallied five double-double performances in a row since a 15-point, 10-rebound outing at Methodist on December 17th, became the first player since Shepherd to notch at least six double doubles in a season since the 2017-18 campaign. 

In 2017-18, Shepherd came through with double-double outings against Penn State-Altoona (23 pts. / 10 rebs), Meredith (21 / 10), N.C. Wesleyan (25 / 15), N.C. Wesleyan (32 / 11), Pfeiffer (20 / 13) and Greensboro (15 / 10). 

Hester now has six double-double outings for Salem this season, including her first double-double of the season (12 points / 12 rebounds), which came against Pfeiffer (November 26). She began a streak of five straight against Methodist (December 17), where she tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds. During that stretch she has posted double-doubles versus Meredith (15 points / 15 rebounds), Sewanee (25 / 14) and most recently William Peace and Greensboro.

The most single-season double-double outings for a Spirit in program history is 18, which was by Quntashea Lewis in the 2015-16 season. Lewis closed her career with a program record 32 double-double performances.  

>BREAKING DOWN THE SCORING LEADERS
Not only has Nicole Hester placed herself among the tops in the lineup in double doubles, she has also become the team leader in 11 major statistical categories, including field goals made (51), field goals attempted (109), field goal percentage (.468), free throws made (32), free throws attempted (55), points (134), points per game (13.4), offensive rebounds (43), defensive rebounds (68), total rebounds (111) and blocks (17).  

Teammate Amy Pedroza, who equaled her single-game season-high in points (18), after finishing 6-of-17 from the floor against Greensboro on Friday, moved into second on the team's scoring list with 106 points. Pedroza has knocked down 38-of-125 field goal attempts, including a team-best 13 from 3-point range, while adding 17 free throw conversions. 

Bass, who has missed the last four games due to a concussion, sits third on the unit in scoring with 68 points (9.7 ppg). 

>NOELL SEIZING HER OPPORTUNITY
One player in particular that has taken advantage of the opportunity to see more time on the court, as Salem competes with five players, has been Anayah Noell. 

The sophomore guard has responded to the challenge with three double-digit scoring performances in her last four contests. That includes a single-game career-high 13-point showing in a clash with Meredith (Dec. 31). Against the Avenging Angels, Noell was 4-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the charity stripe. 

She followed that with eight points at Sewanee (Jan. 4), delivering 10 points apiece at both William Peace (Jan. 7) and Greensboro (Jan. 10). 

>SCOUTING REPORT: SOUTHERN VIRGINIA KNIGHTS
Southern Virginia will host the Spirits in Buena Vista, Va., for the fifth time in the all-time series on Wednesday evening. 

The Knights have won the last nine contests against Salem, including a 94-37 victory in their last meeting on February 6, 2024. Southern Virginia is a perfect 4-0 all-time in Buena Vista, Va., when facing the Spirits. 

Southern Virginia enters Wednesday's game with a 12-2 overall record and a 6-0 mark in USA South Conference play. The Knights have won their last 10 straight and are 7-0 at Knight Arena this season. 

Southern Virginia began its 10-game winning streak with a 72-59 win over Methodist on November 22nd. Since that point the Knights have notched double-digit wins over seven opponents. 

Abigail Snyder leads Southern Virginia in scoring with 184 points (13.1 ppg), followed by Ruth Kempler (155 points / 11.1 ppg) and Addison Newman (122 / 8.7). Kempler leads the way in field goals made (66) and tops the unit in efficiency, hitting 52.4 percent from the floor. 

Snyder tops the team in rebounds (113), hauling in 76 on the defensive end, while dishing out a team-high 40 assists to go along with a team-best 32 steals. 

>SCOUTING REPORT: WILLIAM PEACE
William Peace, which owns a 20-10 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools after posting an 11-point win in Raleigh last week. 

Salem has claimed five of its 10 wins in the series at Varsity Gym, including a 98-62 win on February 3, 2018, the last triumph at home against the Pacers. 

The Spirits picked up four straight wins in the head-to-head series, including two by forfeit in 2023. Salem has managed at least 84 points in its last five games against the Pacers, including 95 points in 2024 and 92 in the February 22nd contest. 

William Peace picked up its second win of the season, splitting the week 1-1, after completing a 64-53 win over Salem on January 7th. Four days later, Southern Virginia posted a 101-47 win over William Peace in Virginia. 

Zikira Henderson continues to lead the team in scoring with 153 points (12.8 ppg), hitting 47-of-156 from the field and 49-of-61 at the free throw line. Henderson is second to Brene'a Daye in 3-point conversions, trailing 14-10 in that category. 

Alayna Randolph leads all Pacers in rebounds with 64, 18 more than Henderson, who is second on the team.