>Site: 
Winston-Salem, N.C. | Varsity Gym

>Score: 
Methodist 48, Salem 42

>Records: 
Salem (0-16, 0-10 USA South) / Methodist (11-7, 6-3 USA South)

>Next Game:
Southern Virginia at Salem | February 4 | Varsity Gym | 6 p.m. 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Cree Bass capped off her second double-double of the season, closing with 11 points and 10 rebounds, but it was a 16-point fourth quarter by Methodist, which included six field goals, that proved to be the difference in the Monarchs' prevailing by a 48-42 margin at Varsity Gym. 

Bass finished the game by knocking down 4-of-11 from the floor, including one 3-pointer, and hauled in nine of her 11 rebounds on the defensive glass to complete the double-double. Nicole Hester led all Spirits in scoring with 12 points, hitting 4-of-8 from the floor and four free throws in the process, while posting four rebounds. 

Amy Pedroza also reached double figure scoring, finishing with 11 points, as she came through with four field goals and a trio of 3-pointers. Salem closed out the game by converting 15-of-55 (27.3%) from the floor and 8-of-13 (61.5%) from the charity stripe. The Spirits managed four 3-pointers along the way. 

Methodist was led offensively by the duo of Anessa Irizarry (16 points) and Kiley Hicks (13), who combined to finish 11-of-19 from the field. The Monarchs hit 19 field goals in the game, but managed just one from beyond the arc. 

FIRST QUARTER: Hester came through with six points for the Spirits, hitting a pair of field goals, as Salem trailed 14-10 at the close of the frame. Methodist scored six straight to open the game, but it was a series of free throws from Hester and a jumper from Bass that quickly cut the margin to two, 6-4. Salem turned up its defensive efforts and added conversions by Hester and Lily Gorum to trim the margin to four heading into the second. 

SECOND QUARTER: The Spirits not only capitalized with 11 points on offense, but limited Methodist to 3-of-9 shooting from the floor. The Monarchs managed just eight points, hitting just one 3-pointer along the way. Pedroza and Bass opened the second with back-to-back buckets for the Spirits, evening the game at 14, before Gorum knocked down a free throw to give Salem its first lead of the day. The tandem of Pedroza and Gorum kept Salem in front, 20-16, before a 6-2 run to close the quarter sent the Monarchs into the intermission with the slim one-point advantage. 

THIRD QUARTER: Both teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the duration of the quarter, combining for just 18 points. Methodist finished 5-of-12 from the floor, while Salem was 3-of-14. The lead changed hands two times inside the first three minutes before a 3-pointer off the hand of Pedroza resulted in a climatic 28-all tie. The Monarchs answered with a jumper from Hannah Evans, assuming the 30-29 lead, and scored one final bucket to head into the fourth with a three-point edge. 

FOURTH QUARTER: The Monarchs capitalized on a 16-point final frame to close out their 11th win of the slate. Methodist was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line and closed out the game by knocking down 6-of-16 from the field. Jade Ware quickly made the contest a one-point affair, 32-31, but it was eight unanswered by the Monarchs the provided breathing room with a 39-31 lead. Despite a Pedroza 3-pointer, Methodist forged in front by 10, 46-36, with just over four minutes remaining. Salem held the Monarchs to two points down the stretch, but managed just six points in that span, resulting in the six-point victory.