Site: Winston-Salem, N.C.

Score: Randolph 82, Salem 57

Records: Salem (1-1) / Randolph (2-0)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Salem sophomore Tamsi Echendu finished with a career-high 22 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in an 82-57 non-conference setback to Randolph, when the two teams clashed at Varsity Gym on Saturday, November 12th.

Echendu came off the bench to knock down 6-of-11 from the floor as well as 10-of-22 from the free throw line en route to a game-high against the WildCats and career-high in the process. She was also active in the paint, pulling down eight rebounds, including three on the offensive glass. Echendu's 22-point effort topped her previous career-high (20), which came in a 74-61 win over Meredith on January 29, 2022.

Teammates Dionne Sampson and Alize Munn also reached double figures for the Spirits by closing with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Salem capped off the game by hitting 18-of-40 (45%) from the floor and converting 17-of-34 (50%) at the charity stripe.

Like Echendu, Munn was an active defender with five rebounds (three defensive), helping Salem close with 25 rebounds. Cree Bass made her presence felt with a game-high six assists, forcing four steals.

FIRST QUARTER
Randolph began its wire-to-wire lead by jumping out to a 13-4 lead, following a 3-pointer off the hand of Jessica Jennings. Echendu and Munn trimmed the deficit to five, 13-8, before an 11-3 run by the WildCats resulted in a 24-11 advantage. Randolph capitalized on a 5-2 run to end the quarter to establish a 16-point lead. Echendu led all Salem scorers with five points, while Munn and Savanah Atkins tallied four points apiece.

SECOND QUARTER
The WildCats once again reached 20 points in the quarter, outscoring Salem 23-15, after hitting 8-of-14 from the floor and knocking down six free throws. After holding the Spirits scoreless for the first 3:12 of the frame, moving their lead to 37-13, Sampson halted the scoring drought with a free throw. Sampson added a 3-pointer, following a pass from Bass, and followed that with a layup to make for a 38-19 Randolph lead. Salem scored nine points to end the half, highlighted by six from Alize Brooks, to make for a 52-28 halftime score.

THIRD QUARTER
The Spirits' offensive struggles in the third quarter allowed Randolph to extend its lead to 70-37 after the WildCat starters accounted for 14 of the 18 points in the frame. Echendu was the go-to offensive performer for Salem, hitting two field goals and 2-of-4 at the free throw line, to finish with six.

FOURTH QUARTER
Salem found its offensive rhythm in the fourth, outscoring the WildCats 20-12 in the process. Echendu poured in 10 points, scoring six of those from the free throw line, to lead the Spirits to a 5-of-9 (55.6%) outing from the floor and a 9-of-19 performance at the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Randolph struggled from the floor—converting just three field goals—and closing with five free throws. The WildCats, who maintained their double-digit scoring lead throughout the quarter, earned their sixth all-time win in the series and third in Winston-Salem.

SALEM NOTES
-Salem sophomore Tamsi Echendu finished with a career-high 22 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
-Echendu came off the bench to knock down 6-of-11 from the floor as well as 10-of-22 from the free throw line en route to a game-high against the WildCats and career-high in the process
-Echendu's 22-point effort topped her previous career-high (20), which came in a 74-61 win over Meredith on January 29, 2022.
-Salem capped off the game by hitting 18-of-40 (45%) from the floor and converting 17-of-34 (50%) at the charity stripe.
-Cree Bass made her presence felt with a game-high six assists, forcing four steals.