>Site: 
Buena Vista, Va. | Knight Arena

>Score: 
Southern Virginia 88, Salem 52

>Records: 
Salem (0-12, 0-6 USA South) / Southern Virginia (13-2, 7-0 USA South)

>Next Game:
William Peace vs. Salem | January 18 | Hanes Gym | 2:00 p.m. 

BUENA VISTA, Va. — Aysia Foster delivered 19 points and teammate Saydee Allred added 14 of her own, leading Southern Virginia to an 88-52 win over Salem when the two teams clashed in USA South Conference action in Knight Arena on Wednesday evening. 

Salem was led in scoring by Nicole Hester, who tallied 13 points after hitting 5-of-10 from the floor, along with Cree Bass (12 points) and Amy Pedroza (11). Bass scored nine of her 12 points from beyond the arc, knocking down 3-of-4 in the process, while Pedroza was 3-of-7 from the field and 5-of-6 at the charity stripe. 

Hester saw her double-double streak end at five games, managing just six rebounds to go with her 13-point performance. Hester grabbed three rebounds each on the offensive and defensive glass, while Anayah Noell led Salem with seven rebounds, nabbing six on the defensive end. Salem notched 19 of its 52 total points at the free throw line, hitting 19-of-32 (59.4%) in the process. Pedroza and Noell led the way with five free throws apiece. 

A total of 14 players scored for the Knights, but Foster and Allred were the only to reach double figures. Ruth Kempler came off the bench to finish with nine points, knocking down 4-of-9 from the field, while Asia Canty and Camilla Norton added eight points apiece in reserve. 

Foster was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field, finishing 1-for-3 at the charity stripe, and added seven rebounds and four blocks. Allred closed the game by hitting 5-of-12 from the field, converting three from beyond the arc, while teammate Alyssa Weiland tied Foster in total rebounds with seven. 

FIRST QUARTER: Southern Virginia established itself early with a 23-8 lead at the close of the first quarter, finishing 10-for-24 from the floor, while limiting the Spirits to just three field goals. Pedroza and Hester kept the contest close in the first four minutes by a 4-3 margin. However, the Knights put together a 16-2 run, capped off by a Camilla Norton trey, to move in front by 15. Hester closed out the quarter with a layup for the final two Salem points. 

SECOND QUARTER: The Knights and Salem were evenly split in second half points, finishing with 12 apiece, with the Spirits scoring six of those points at the free throw line. Hester and Bass put Salem into double figures, while slicing the margin to 23-12. After a Hester layup trimmed the deficit to 29-18, the Knights closed out the quarter on a 6-2 run, stretching the lead to 35-20 at the intermission. 

THIRD QUARTER: Salem scored its most points in a quarter in the third, finishing with 19, after hitting 6-of-12 (50%) from the floor and 5-of-6 (83.3%) at the free throw line. Pedroza scored the first points of the frame, but it was a 10-2 run by the Knights that resulted in a 44-24 advantage. The combination of Noell and Lily Gorum, along with a 3-pointer off the hand of Bass, pulled the deficit to 51-34 for the Spirits. Jade Ware added four points of her own, while Bass contributed a free throw, as the Spirits trailed 62-39 at the close of the frame. 

FOURTH QUARTER: Southern Virginia put the finishing touches on its victory with a 26-point fourth quarter outing. The Knights managed to hit 10-of-19 (52.6%) from the floor and added five from the free throw line. The two Salem field goals came from Hester and Bass, who drained a 3-pointer.