WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Erika Nettles led three Bridgewater players in double figures with 16 points, while teammate Jaden Aisberry finished with 11 rebounds and 10 points, as the Eagles claimed an 81-64 victory over Salem in Varsity Gym on Wednesday, December 29th. Salem was led by Alize Munn, who scored 15 points in reserve, and Lauren Privette, who anchored the post with a team-high 10 rebounds.
The Spirits (1-9) wrap up the 2021 calendar year when it was announced that the game against Guilford, originally scheduled for Friday, December 31st, has been rescheduled for January 16th.
Munn, making her debut at Varsity Gym, finished 6-of-9 from the floor and was a perfect 2-of-2 at the charity stripe. She also climbed the glass for seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Tyler Davenport reached double figures for the ninth time this season, scoring 11 points, by hitting 5-of-7 from the field, including a 3-pointer.
Privette reached double-digit rebounds for the 16th time in her collegiate career and first since hauling in 10 against Mary Baldwin on January 21, 2020. She grabbed seven on the defensive front and was also active with five blocks, her most since a five-block performance against Johnson & Wales on November 20, 2019. Teammate Sydney Bowen also had a solid outing with eight points and a team-high four assists.
Nettles knocked down 5-of-14 from the floor and added 6-of-9 at the free throw line for Bridgewater, which improved to 5-4 overall and 3-0 in the all-time series with the Spirits. Aisberry equaled her teammate's field goals made (five), and hauled in 10 defensive rebounds, while making four blocks and three steals.
Mary Ruth Shifflett also reached double figures in the contest, scoring 10, by virtue of hitting 1-of-3 from the floor and knocking down eight free throws along the way. Shifflett also handed out a team-high five assists as the Eagles tallied 24 as a unit.
Facing a 21-point deficit entering the second half, Salem opened the third quarter by enjoying a 9-2 run, slicing the lead to 45-29. Davenport singlehandedly scored all nine points for the Spirits, including a 3-pointer at the 8:46 mark. Bridgewater retaliated with a 14-5 run of its own, capped off by a trey from Rosemary Pierson, to make for a 59-34 advantage. However, Salem rebounded behind seven points from Munn and five from Alize Brooks, trimming the margin to 63-46 entering the final quarter.
Bowen helped Salem eventually draw to within 16, 70-54, with a timely 3-pointer at the 6:58 mark of the fourth. It was the second of two 3-pointers for the Spirits in the first 3:02 of the quarter, following one from Cree Bass. Dionne Sampson knocked down a 3-pointer and Munn added four points of her own, making for a 74-60 lead for Bridgewater, to mark the narrowest margin of the quarter. The Eagles allowed just four points over the final 3:45 of the game to claim the 17-point win.
The Spirits established a 4-3 lead early in the contest when Davenport knocked down a layup following a pass from Bass. Bridgewater answered with a 4-1 run, beforeSampson trimmed the margin to 8-7 after a layup. Two 3-pointers by the Eagles pushed the lead to 18-7 at the 4:31 mark and Salem eventually moved into double figures with a free throw from Savanah Atkins. The Spirits received a 3-pointer from Alize Munn just under two minutes left in the quarter, but Bridgewater ended the frame with a 32-13 advantage.
Both teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the second half with Bridgewater holding a slim 9-7 lead advantage in scoring. Salem received its first bucket of the frame from Sydney Bowen, but the Eagles managed to stretch the advantage to 41-18 at the 2:27 mark. Salem ended the frame with a layup from Thomas to pull within 21 at the intermission.
The Spirits return to action on Tuesday, January 4th when they host Pfeiffer at 2 p.m.