>Site: 
Sewanee, Tenn. | Juhan Gymnasium

>Score: 
Sewanee 96, Salem 49

>Records: 
Salem (0-9) / Sewanee (7-6)

>Next Game:
Salem at William Peace | January 7 | 7 p.m. 

SEWANEE, Tenn. — Salem's Nicole Hester continued her solid play, recording her third straight double-double (25 points / 14 rebounds), but Sewanee countered with four double-digit scoring performances, including a game-high 27 from Olivia Falvey in a 96-49 triumph when the two teams clashed in the Volunteer State on Saturday afternoon. 

Hester finished 11-of-24 from the floor, knocked down 3-of-6 from the free throw line, and grabbed seven rebounds on both offense and defense en route to her fourth double-double outing in the last five outings. The trio of Amy Pedroza, Jade Ware and Anayah Noell contributed eight points each for Salem, which finished 20-of-66 from the floor and 8-of-17 at the free throw line in the first-ever meeting with Sewanee. 

The Tigers' offense capped off the victory by knocking down 36-of-81 (44.4%), including 13 from 3-point range, and managed to convert at least 54 percent from the floor in both the second (13-of-24) and third (12-of-21) frames. While Sewanee was led in scoring by Falvey's 27, teammate Cydney Wright posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Elliott Porter and Hannah Cleveland also reached double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively. 

The combination of Pedroza and Hester provided Salem with an early 5-2 lead inside the first two minutes, but the Tigers came through with 13 unanswered points to assume a 10-point lead at the close of the quarter.

Pedroza ended the scoring drought for the Spirits with a conversion at 9:02 in the second, resulting in a 17-7 score, but an 8-2 run provided Sewanee with a 25-9 lead. Hester answered with a bucket of her at the 5:18 mark, pushing Salem into double figures. Hester and Jade Ware scored four points apiece over the remainder of the quarter to lead a Salem unit that trailed 44-20 at the intermission. 

Sewanee enjoyed its best shooting quarter of the contest in the third, hitting 12-of-21 (57.1%) from the floor and 6-of-8 (75%) from beyond the arc, outscoring the Spirits 33-14 in the process. Hester was the primary source of offense for Salem, scoring seven points in the frame, while Noell added four of her own. 

The Spirits held their own in the fourth quarter, closing with 15 points after hitting 6-of-19 from the floor and 3-of-5 at the free throw line. Hester was single-handedly responsible for 11 of the 15 points for Salem, which will return to USA South Conference play this week with clashes at William Peace and Greensboro.