>Opponents:
Salem vs. Greensboro | February 22 | Varsity Gym | 2 p.m.
Salem vs. N.C. Wesleyan | February 23 | Varsity Gym | 2 p.m.
>SPIRITS CONCLUDE 2024-25 SEASON WITH WEEKEND PAIR
The Spirits put the finishing touches on the 2024-25 campaign with back-to-back USA South Conference games against Greensboro (February 22) and N.C. Wesleyan (February 23) at Varsity Gym.
>LAST TIME OUT: PFEIFFER PREVAILS OVER SALEM IN ROAD CLASH ON FEBRUARY 15
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.
>DAWSON LOOKS TO CLOSE ON A POSITIVE NOTE
Salem first-year head coach Danielle Dawson will look to end the 2024-25 season on a positive note.
Dawson was named the sixth head coach in Salem history on September 5, 2024. She took over at Salem College after spending the last two seasons at Shaw University, taking over for Sharee Boyd, who departed for Francis Marion. In 2023-24, Boyd led the Spirits to eight wins, the most since the 2017-18 season under then head coach
Britni Mohney, who won 10 games.
Dawson brings a wealth of experience to the Salem, serving as an assistant coach at four NCAA Division I programs (Monmouth, N.C. A&T, Delaware State, Radford) during that span. She also worked at NCAA Division II institutions, including Valdosta State, Virginia Union and most recently Shaw.
>HESTER MOVES HER DOUBLE-DOUBLE TALLY TO SIX IN 2024-25
First year
Nicole Hester has tallied six double-doubles over the course of the 2024-25 campaign, including her most recent double-double which came on January 10th at against Greensboro. Hester became the first Spirit since Sabrina Shepherd to notch six double doubles in a single season.
Hester began a stretch of five straight double-double performances with a 15-point, 10-rebound outing at Methodist on December 17th. By virtue of that stretch, Hester is the first player since Shepherd to notch at least six double doubles in a season since the 2017-18 campaign.
In 2017-18, Shepherd came through with double-double outings against Penn State-Altoona (23 pts. / 10 rebs), Meredith (21 / 10), N.C. Wesleyan (25 / 15), N.C. Wesleyan (32 / 11), Pfeiffer (20 / 13) and Greensboro (15 / 10).
Since that last double-double, Hester has had some near misses, including a 10-point, nine-rebound performance against William Peace (January 18). She was also close with 12 points and eight rebounds in a clash with Southern Virginia (February 4) and a nine-point, nine-rebound outing at N.C. Wesleyan (February 8).
Hester has six double-double outings for Salem this season, including her first double-double of the season (12 points / 12 rebounds), which came against Pfeiffer (November 26). After her 15-point, 15-rebound performance on December 17th against Methodist, she had double-double outings versus Meredith (15 points / 15 rebounds), Sewanee (25 / 14), William Peace (19 / 17) and Greensboro (19 / 16) in succession.
The most single-season double-double outings for a Spirit in program history is 18, which was by
Quntashea Lewis in the 2015-16 season. Lewis closed her career with a program record 32 double-double performances.
>BREAKING DOWN THE SALEM LINEUP THIS SEASON
As the Spirits head into their final weekend of hoops action this weekend,
Nicole Hester leads the team in both points (200 points) and rebounds (157) after appearing in 17 games.
Hester is one of four Spirits with triple-digit points, along with
Amy Pedroza (187),
Cree Bass (169) and
Anayah Noell (116). Hester has reached the 200-point mark by virtue of hitting 74-of-172 field goals (43%), while knocking down 52-of-84 (61.9%) from the charity stripe.
Hester's 157 rebounds have come from her grabbing 93 on the defensive glass and another 64 on the offensive end. Her defensive prowess has also been felt in the form of 21 blocks, a team-high.
Pedroza has knocked down the third-most field goals (61) on the roster, and has the second-most 3-pointers (23) of any Spirit. Pedroza has been efficient at the free throw line with the best percentage (79.2) of anyone on the roster, hitting 42-of-53 at the stripe. She is also third in assists with 25.
Bass leads the team in both 3-pointers (26) and assists (45), sitting nine rebounds shy of 100 on the season.
One season after scoring 13 points, Noell, has reached triple figures with 116 points. She has knocked down 39 field goals and 37 free throws on the season, grabbing 71 rebounds along the way. Noell has also forced nine steals and converted two blocks.
>BASS CLOSES OUT BASKETBALL CAREER WITH WEEKEND CLASHES
Graduate senior guard
Cree Bass puts the finishing touches on her hoops career at Salem before heading to the softball diamond. Bass is third on the team in scoring with 169 points (10.6 ppg) in 2024-25, which marks her fourth straight campaign with at least 150 points.
This season, Bass has hit 62 field goals, including 26 from beyond the arc, while knocking down 19 free throws along the way. She equaled her single-season career-high in rebounds (91), while handing out 45 assists along the way.
She enters the final two games of the regular season with 713 points in her career, which results in the eighth-most points in program history. Bass needs 11 points to reach 180 points in a single season for the third time in her career.
Bass has scored 351 of her 695 points from beyond the arc, knocking down 117 3-pointers along the way. That gives her the second-most treys in program history, a mark that belongs to Sabrina Shepherd, who finished her career with 220 3-pointers. Bass is one of five Salem players with at least 100 3-pointers in a career. The others include Amber Miller, Satavia Taylor and Kelsey Rector.
>SCOUTING REPORT: GREENSBORO
The Pride enter the weekend with a 3-12 mark in league action and are 5-17 on the season.
Greensboro comes to Salem in search of its second win in February and first since posting a 70-55 victory over William Peace on February 15th.
The Pride are led by the tandem of Azuria Barrino (200 points) and Meah Brooks (199) in scoring. Barrino has knocked down 85 field goals, while Brooks has 83 to her credit. The pair are also separated by just one made free throw, with Barrino converting 23 on the campaign.
Nakiyah Kelly has the team lead in rebounds (165), including 118 on the defensive glass. She is locked in a battle for the team-high in blocks with Barrino, who has 23, while Kelly has managed 21.
>SCOUTING REPORT: N.C. WESLEYAN
N.C. Wesleyan comes into the final weekend of the season with a 14-7 overall record, boasting an 11-3 mark in USA South Conference play.
The Battling Bishops trail Brevard by one game in the USA South Conference standings with the Tornados (Feb. 22) and Salem on the docket left.
N.C. Wesleyan is riding a five-game winning streak, which began with a 66-39 victory over Meredith on January 29th in Rocky Mount, N.C.
Nadia Simmons leads the way for the Battling Bishops' offense with 276 points (13.8 ppg), hitting 109-of-221 (49.3%) from the field. Simmons has also climbed the glass for 82 rebounds, along with handing out 59 assists and forcing 35 steals.
The top 3-point shooter is Corynthian Williams, who has 22 to her credit, which played a large part in her 180 points.
Anaya Hall leads the team in rebounds (125) to go along with her 167 points, while Dorinda Jordan has 118 rebounds and 128 points for the Bishops.
