FERRUM, Va. – The trio of Cameron Hawkins, Kayla Cabiness and DeMeisha Canada combined 61 points for Ferrum, which earned an 80-62 victory over Salem in non-conference basketball action in Ferrum, Va., on Wednesday evening. Salem received a career-high 19 points from Dionne Sampson in reserve, while Tyler Davenport tallied 11 points and Lauren Privette contributed eight rebounds.
Sampson was 5-of-13 from the floor for Salem, adding eight points from the free throw line, highlighting the reserve unit. Tyler Davenport topped the double-digit scoring mark after draining 7-of-10 free throws and finishing with a pair of buckets. Privette led the way in the paint for Salem with eight rebounds, pulling down three on the offensive end while Alize Brooks contributed eight points and three assists. Kyana Thomas also managed nine points off the bench for Salem.
Ferrum (4-6) finished 34-of-70 from the floor (48.6%) and was 8-of-13 (61.5%) at the free throw line in the victory. Hawkins closed out the game by hitting 9-of-13 from the floor, grabbing 11 rebounds along the way. Canada tied her in field goals made, finishing 9-of-16 from the floor, and pulled down a game-high 14 boards. Cabiness converted 8-of-15 shots, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, in 36 minutes of action.
After falling into a 14-4 hole at the 6:15 mark, following a jumper by Canada, Salem used five points each from Davenport and Thomas to draw within two, 16-14, with 1:45 left in the opening frame. Brooks converted a 3-point just over 20 seconds to provide Salem a one-point advantage. Brooks added one point down the stretch while Camille Mangum hit a jump shot to make for an 18-all deadlock after one quarter.
Brooks continued to spark the Salem offense in the second quarter, driving home a layup three minutes in to provide Salem with a 26-22 advantage. The Spirits eventually built a six-point lead, 30-24, following a layup by Tamsi Echendu at the 5:10 mark. With the six-point difference intact after Privette converted a free throw at 2:12, Ferrum responded with a 10-3 run to close out the quarter, establishing a 37-36 lead.
The tandem of Davenport and Thomas helped Salem establish a 42-39 lead in the early stages of the third quarter, but Ferrum countered with a 9-0 run that spanned 3:57. Sampson and Thomas contributed four points for Salem, which trimmed the lead to 48-46, before a 13-0 run by the Panthers resulted in a 61-46 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Davenport halted the scoreless streak for Salem just 2:43 into the final frame, making for a 64-47 lead, sparking a 7-2 run that brought the deficit to 14. Sampson converted a layup at the 3:49 mark, resulting in a 68-57 Ferrum advantage. The Panthers allowed just five points down the stretch, while scoring 12 of their own, to pick up their third win in the all-time series between the two programs.
Salem completes its four-game road stretch on Saturday, December 18th, when the Spirits return to USA South Conference action with a 2 p.m. game against Pfeiffer in Meisenheimer, N.C.