Salem Basketball traveled to Misenheimer, NC tonight to take on Pfeiffer, falling in a 71-53 contest.
The Spirits started out hot in the first quarter, out-scoring the Falcons 16-10. Nicole Hester opened up the scoring for Salem, knocking down a layup that was followed by a jumper from Anayah Noell soon after. The Spirits were trailing for most of the first five minutes, until Amy Pedroza hit a fast-break three pointer to bring their score within one. Lauren Ringwood snagged two fast-break points of her own, pulling Salem in front. The Spirits only let Pfeiffer score once more the remainder of the quarter, while tacking on seven more points from Pedroza and Hester.
The Falcons bounced back early in the second quarter, tacking on nine points before Hester hit a fast-break layup assisted by Noell. Triana Smallwood and Tyla Whitehead both scored their first points of the matchup, with both knocking down two free throws and Whitehead scoring a jumper. The Falcons kept up their intensity through the end of the quarter, snagging two three pointers to keep a nine point lead going into halftime.
Once again, Hester scored the first points of the third quarter for the Spirits, with Ringwood scoring less than a minute later. Pfeiffer then found a strong stretch of offense, scoring 19 unanswered points. Three made free throws from the Spirits finally brought some momentum back in their direction, spurring them on to hold the Falcons to four points in the final three minutes of the quarter. Salem scored eight points to close out quarter three, bringing the deficit under 20.
Ringwood started strong in the first minute of quarter four, snagging a steal and a fast-break layup less than a minute in. Smallwood scored the next five points for the Spirits, sinking a three, assisted by Pedroza, and a fast-break layup from a steal. Cristina Battistini got in on the scoring late in the quarter, capitalizing on a pass from Whitehead. Pedroza closed out the evening for Salem, making two free throws.
Tonight's stat leaders were Nicole Hester with 15 points, two blocks, and seven rebounds; Triana Smallwood with four steals and five rebounds; Lauren Ringwood with four assists and five rebounds; and Amy Pedroza with two three-pointers.
The Spirits will next be in action on December 2nd where they host Mid-Atlantic Christian at 6pm.
