Salem College

AWARDS & ACCOLADES
-2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (Basketball)

JUNIOR (2024-25 / BASKETBALL): A multi-faceted player that finished off the season with 73 points and 60 rebounds … converted 28 field goals and 12 free throws, along with five 3-pointers … responsible for 20 steals …  made six starts to open the season, including the season opener at Montreat (Nov. 9), delivering five rebounds along the way … climbed the glass for five rebounds, while adding five points, at Averett (Nov. 20) … posted 10 rebounds (eight defensive) along with seven points against Agnes Scott (Nov. 23) … hauled in seven rebounds (six defensive) … enjoyed solid outings at Meredith (Jan. 25) and Brevard (Jan. 29), delivering six and seven points, respectively … emerged with a single-game season-high 14 points at Pfeiffer (Feb. 15), finishing a perfect 5-of-5 at the charity stripe to go along with four field goals, while grabbing seven rebounds … tallied 10 points in 30 minutes, finishing 4-for-4 from the free throw line, while hauling in six rebounds. 

JUNIOR (2024 / SOCCER): Returned to the soccer team after rehabilitation from a knee injury and appeared in nine matches over the course of the season … made her 2024 debut at Wesleyan (Ga.) on September 8th … saw action in a clash with Methodist (September 29) … appeared in eight USA South Conference matches for the Spirits, missing action against Southern Virginia … a top defender for the Spirits, she played a key role in helping Salem battle to three one-goal differences in USA South Conference action.

SOPHOMORE (2023-24 / Basketball ): A solid contributor to both the offense, finishing with 66 points, and defensive units, closing with 68 rebounds (42 defensive) for the Spirits … tallied four points off the bench, while adding seven rebounds and five boards against both Warren Wilson (Nov. 14) and Agnes Scott (Nov. 18), respectively … capped off her first start of the slate with nine points, four rebounds and two assists at Meredith (Nov. 21) … responsible for four points and two rebounds at N.C. Wesleyan (Jan. 3) … knocked down five free throws in a seven-point, four-rebound performance versus at William Peace (Jan. 10) … climbed the glass for five rebounds at Pfeiffer (Jan. 20) … enjoyed her best offensive game of the season, closing with 10 points, by hitting 5-of-6 at the charity stripe at Greensboro (Jan. 27) … twice scored three points in the final five games of the season at Methodist (Jan. 30) and Mary Baldwin (Feb. 3).

FIRST YEAR (2022-23 / Basketball): Closed out a solid first season on the hardwoods with 61 rebounds and 54 points for the Spirits … her 61 rebounds were the fifth-most on the team … climbed the offensive glass for 25 boards … hit 19 field goals, including six 3-pointers, along with 10 free throws for Salem … also dished out 19 assists and forced 18 steals … made her collegiate debut against Warren Wilson (Nov. 8), closing with six points in 26 minutes, making her first start … finished with five points against Southern Virginia (Jan. 10) … emerged with seven points in 38 minutes of action at Methodist (Jan. 13) … responsible for two points against Pfeiffer (Jan. 21) and four points versus Mary Baldwin (Jan. 25) … emerged with seven points, hitting two field goals in 27 minutes, in a clash at Pfeiffer (Feb. 3) … closed out six-point performance against Meredith (Feb. 11) by finishing 2-for-4 from the floor … contributed two points in a series of games with Brevard (Feb. 18) and Greensboro (Feb. 21).

FIRST YEAR (2022 / Soccer): Appeared in 17 matches over the course of her first-year at Salem, making 10 starts along the way … one of seven players with multiple goals, netting two on the season … closed out her first season with 10 shots and six shots on goal, amassing four points … played a key role in helping the Salem defense to limit opponents to 33 goals, 22 assists (88 points) as well as a .108 shot percentage along with 150 shots on goal (.490 shots on goal percentage) … began her collegiate career with a goal on one shot in an 8-0 victory at Regent (Sept. 3) … emerged with two shots, both on goal, against Sweet Briar (Sept. 6) … notched the first goal, a game-winning shot, of a 3-0 victory against Johnson & Wales (Sept. 10) … made two shots in Salem’s 4-1 victory against Agnes Scott (Sept. 18) … capped off a clash against Pfeiffer (Oct. 22) with a single-match season-high four shots.

PREP: A native of Italy … graduated from Winston-Salem Christian School in 2022 … a two-sport athlete who also plays basketball … competed seven years of Club Basketball for Nvova Virtus Lesena under the direction of head coach Fabio Usoni.

PERSONAL: Cristina Battistini … daughter of Roberta Buratti and Carlo Battistini … born on May 21, 2002.