Salem Basketball opened their season with a Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night matchup with Regent University. After a competitive second half, the Spirits took home their first win of their 2025-26 campaign, finishing with a 61-57 result.

Salem dominated the first quarter, out-scoring the Royals 12-4. The scoring kicked off with freshman Lauren Ringwood, knocking down her first two collegiate points. A minute later, Regent was able to tie it up with two free throws. Some good defense from both sides kept the score at two until Ringwood doubled their score to regain the lead. Anayah Noell got in on the scoring soon after, knocking down a jumper and a free throw to bring the Spirits to 7-2. Freshman Tyla Whitehead also put up points in her college debut, followed soon after by a triple, drained by Triana Smallwood. 

The Royals found some offense early in the second quarter, putting up seven points before the Spirits were able to score. Junior transfer Catherine Jordan Cano scored her first points in a Salem uniform, to bring their lead back up to three with a 14-11 score. Cristina Battistini and Nicole Hester both put up their first points of the 2025-26 season, keeping momentum with the Spirits. Combined with buckets from Ringwood, Smallwood, and Noell, Salem finished out another solid half, going into halftime with an eight point lead. 

After two early buckets from the Royals, Ringwood amped up the intensity with a huge and-one, completing the three-point play to start out the third quarter. Jade Ware joined in on the scoring for the Spirits, finding the hoop after a pass from Amy Pedroza. Pedroza was making plays on defense as well, snagging one of her five steals of the matchup soon after. Despite Regent out-scoring Salem 15-11 this quarter, the Spirits held on to a four point lead going into the final 10 minutes.

Ware opened up the scoring in quarter four, followed by two well-earned free throws from Pedroza. Salem continued to hold a multiple possession lead going into the last seven minutes, until the Royals center found a rhythm, putting up eight straight points to bring the margin to two. A few well-time free throws from Regent brought the score to 52-51 in favor of the Spirits, with Ringwood keeping their lead alive with a fast-break layup. The Royals drained a huge three to tie up the score, ultimately finding points in the paint to secure their first lead of the matchup. The moment was not too big for Lauren Ringwood, who scored six of Salem's last seven points, spurred on by key steals from Smallwood and Pedroza. Putting an exclamation point on a huge home opener win, Amy Pedroza sank one final free throw to give the Spirits their 61-57 win.

Tonight's stat leaders were Lauren Ringwood with 24 points, Amy Pedroza with five steals, both Nicole Hester and Ringwood snagged seven rebounds, and Jade Ware and Pedroza secured three assists apiece.

The Spirits will next be in action on November 18th, where they travel to take on Johnson and Wales.