>Site: 
Brevard, N.C. | Boshamer Gym

>Score: 
Brevard 81, Salem 53

>Records: 
Salem (0-15, 0-9 USA South) / Brevard (14-4, 9-2 USA South)

>Next Game:
Methodist at Salem | February 1 | Varsity Gym | 2 p.m. 

BREVARD, N.C. — Josie Hester and Analee Morris combined for 30 points, while teammate Makenna Perkins climbed the glass for 12 rebounds, to guide Brevard to an 81-53 victory over Salem in USA South Conference action on Wednesday evening. 

The Spirits' offense was led by the duo of Cree Bass (14 points) and Anayah Noell (12), who knocked down five field goals apiece. Bass finished 5-for-13 from the floor, hitting 3-of-9 from beyond the arc, while Noell managed to convert 5-of-8 from the field. Collectively, Salem was 22-of-60 from the floor, knocked down six 3-pointers in the process, and added three free throws.

Bass also added seven rebounds, a team-high, along with forcing two steals. Noell came through with five rebounds of her own and Nicole Hester contributed five rebounds. Meanwhile, Brevard finished 31-of-62 (50%) from the floor and was successful on 10 3-pointers on the evening. 

FIRST QUARTER: Brevard opened the game by hitting 8-of-16 from the floor, including five treys, as it built a 13-point lead. The Tornados streaked out to a 14-0 lead, capped off by a 3-point from Morris, before Amy Pedroza put Salem on the board with a trey of her own at the 5:50 mark. Noell and Jade Ware added buckets of their own, before a jumper off the hand of Pedroza put Salem into double figures.  

SECOND QUARTER: Salem enjoyed its best quarter of scoring against the Tornados by notching 16 points with a 7-of-16 outing. Bass quickly tallied the first points of the quarter for the Spirits, but Brevard countered with a 9-0 run of its own to assume a 33-13 advantage. Bass' 3-pointer at the 6:07 mark resulted in the 16th point for Salem, while Cristina Battistini and Hester followed with a series of scores to make for a 40-20 contest. The Spirits capitalized on a 3-pointer from Battistini, along with four points from Noell, slicing the Brevard lead to 42-27 at the intermission. 

THIRD QUARTER: Brevard came out of the intermission firing on all cylinders, resulting in a 22-point performance, as it finished 5-of-15 (33.3%) from the field. After an early 3-pointer from Josie Hester extended the Brevard margin to 45-27, Bass singlehandedly scored six points of her own, as Salem pulled to within 12, 47-35. However, Brevard answered with a 15-0 run of its own, capped off by a Hester trey, to grab the 62-35 advantage. The tandem of Battistini and Bass accounted for the final five points of the frame, but Brevard held a 24-point lead to close out the quarter. 

FOURTH QUARTER: The two teams were evenly matched in the final quarter, separated by just four points (17-13), with Brevard owning the slight edge offensively. Brevard eventually pushed its lead to 30 points, 70-40, on a series of free throws by Parkins at the 7:37 mark. Hester came through with four points, while Lily Gorum added two free throws, pulling the margin to 74-48. Salem received five points down the stretch, including a 3-pointer off the hand of Pedroza, to make for the 81-53 final.