>Site: 
Misenheimer, N.C. 

>Score: 
Pfeiffer 71, Salem 49 

>Records: 
Salem (0-20, 0-14 USA South) / Pfeiffer (11-10, 8-6 USA South)

>Next Game:
N.C. Wesleyan at Salem | February 20 | Varsity Gym | 6 p.m. 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Alexis Bynum scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Kenadie Hudler added 15 points, leading Pfeiffer to a 71-49 victory over Salem in USA South Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Merner Gym. 

The Spirits, who completed the road portion of their 2024-25 schedule, were led offensively by junior Cristina Battistini, who closed with 14 points and seven rebounds. Battistini knocked down four field goals, including one from 3-point range, along with all five free throw attempts. She was joined in double-digit scoring by teammates Cree Bass (11) and Maleah Flagler (10), as Salem hit 18-of-45 (40%) from the floor. 

Battistini also climbed the for seven rebounds, while Bass snapped down six and Lily Gorum grabbed six of her own. 

Pfeiffer moved over the .500 mark on the season after finishing 26-of-64 (40.6%) and managed 13-of-19 (68.4%). Bynum and Hudler led the way on offense with a pair of double-digit games, while the duo of Lola Cabaniss-Ali and Hannah Isley added nine points apiece off the bench. 

FIRST QUARTER: Pfeiffer established a 19-9 lead through the first quarter, knocking down 6-of-14 (42.9%) from the floor in the process. The Falcons converted six free throws, while Salem added three from the charity stripe to go along with three shots from the floor. Jade Ware opened scoring with a series of free throws, but Pfeiffer answered by scoring six of the next eight points to grab a four-point lead. Lily Gorum hit a pull up jumper, cutting the margin to 8-6. Alexis Bynum drove home a layup to put the score at 12-6 for Pfeiffer, which surrendered scores to Anayah Noell and Christina Battistini as the Falcons built the 10-point lead. 

SECOND QUARTER: Pfeiffer nearly equaled its first quarter offensive output in the second, heading to the intermission with a 37-19 advantage. Salem closed out the quarter by hitting 5-of-9 (55.6%) from the floor, while the Falcons countered by knocking down 7-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-8 from beyond arc. Pfeiffer scored the first 13 points of the frame before a Maleah Flagler layup put the Spirits into double figures. Ware followed with a layup of her own while Gorum converted a hook shot to account for the 15th Salem point. Cree Bass and Flagler hit a pair of buckets down the stretch to account for the Salem offense. 

THIRD QUARTER: Salem's offense broke through with a 20-point third quarter, hitting 8-of-17 (47.1%) from the floor, along with three free throws. The Falcons closed out the quarter by converting 9-of-18 (50%) from the field and like Salem (3-3) was perfect at the charity stripe (4-4). The Spirits got seven points apiece from Bass and Battistini in the quarter. 

FOURTH QUARTER: The two teams were separated by just one point (11-10) in the final frame, where Pfeiffer converted four field goals and added two free throws. Salem collected five of its 10 points at the charity stripe, while adding a pair of field goals. Facing a 60-39 deficit heading into the final quarter, Salem got its first two points by virtue of Bass' free throws. Battistini hit a pair of free throws at the 4:11 mark before converting a 3-pointer, following a pass from Ware with 3:35 left on the clock. Gorum converted the final free throw of the contest to make for the 71-49 final.