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

>Score: 
Brevard 66, Salem 38 

>Records: 
Salem (0-19, 0-13 USA South) / Brevard (15-5, 10-3 USA South)

>Next Game:
Salem at Pfeiffer | February 15 | Merner Gym | 2 p.m. 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Clinging to a six-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, Brevard capitalized on a 32-point outburst to secure its 10th win in USA South Conference play with a 66-38 victory over the Salem when the two teams met at Varsity Gym on Wednesday evening. 

Anayah Noell closed with 14 points for Salem, highlighted by four field goals and a perfect 6-for-6 outing at the free throw line. Noell also grabbed four rebounds. Teammate Lily Gorum also enjoyed a solid performance, delivering a game-high 12 rebounds (four offensive), along with eight points in 37 minutes of action. 

Cree Bass was active on the glass for Salem with 11 rebounds, adding seven points to the offensive production. 

Josie Hester's 20 points lead the way for the Tornados, who finished 25-of-74 (33.8%) from the floor and 10-of-38 (26.3%) from 3-point range. Hester, the lone Brevard player in double figures, had five rebounds along the way. Lexi Shepard closed with nine points for Brevard, while Jada Petty-Wilkins climbed the glass for a team-best seven rebounds. 

FIRST QUARTER: Brevard assumed a 12-3 lead by the close of the opening quarter, hitting five field goals along the way, including a pair from 3-point range. Salem struggled to find its offensive form, managing just one field goal in 13 attempts, while adding a free throw from Lily Gorum. The first Salem bucket came from Jade Ware, slicing the margin to 3-2, but the Tornados countered with six unanswered. Josie Hester closed out scoring with a 3-pointer for the Brevard. 

SECOND QUARTER: The Tornados again came through with five field goals in the quarter, knocking down 5-of-18 from the field. Meanwhile, Salem countered with eight points in the second after converting four field goals. Anayah Noell marked the first field goal of the second quarter for Salem, keeping the lead at 10, but Brevard scored six unanswered. Cristina Battistini ended the Salem drought with a jumper at the 1:57 mark, before Noell and Gorum added jumpers to put the Spirits into double figures. 

THIRD QUARTER: Salem made a significant cut into the Tornados' lead with a 17-point third quarter, which resulted in a 34-28 heading into the fourth quarter. The Spirits finished 5-of-13 (38.5%) from the field, while Brevard managed just three field goals. The biggest advantage for the Spirits was from the free throw line, where they finished 6-of-7. Bass opened scoring with a 3-pointer, which was followed by buckets from Ware and Battistini, putting the margin to single digits, 26-18. Noell added two layups for Salem with four minutes remaining, which resulted in a 28-22 contest. Bass sliced the margin to four, 28-24, but Brevard scored six of the final 10 points of the frame for the six-point margin. 

FOURTH QUARTER: Looking to secure its 10th USA South Conference win of the season, the Tornados responded to Salem's third quarter challenge with a 22-point difference in the fourth. Brevard finished off the fourth by hitting 12-of-22 (54.6%) from the floor, knocking down 4-of-8 (50%) from beyond the arc. Separated by just six points, 38-32, less than two minutes onto the frame, Brevard put together a 14-point run that was capped off by an Analee Morris layup to forge in front 52-32. The Spirits briefly cut the margin under 20, but it was a trey off the hand of Malayka Rankin that made for a 22-point lead. The Spirits tallied three free throws down the stretch, including two by Ware, to make for the 66-38 final.