RALEIGH, N.C. – The Meredith College basketball team secured a hard-fought 42–36 victory over Salem College on Friday afternoon, December 20, at Weatherspoon Gymnasium, earning its first USA South Conference win of the season.

After trailing early, the Avenging Angels used a strong second half and a dominant fourth-quarter performance to pull away in a defensive battle that featured five lead changes and physical play on both ends of the floor.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Salem College jumped out to a 14–4 lead at the end of the first quarter, holding Meredith to just one field goal in the opening frame. The Avenging Angels responded in the second quarter, outscoring Salem 14–5 to narrow the deficit and head into halftime down just 19–18.

Meredith continued to apply pressure in the second half, holding Salem to 12 points in the third quarter and only five points in the final period. A decisive 14–5 fourth-quarter advantage sealed the victory for the home team.

KEY PERFORMANCES

Emma Roche led Meredith with a strong all-around effort, pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds to go along with seven points. Emme Baber and Kaitlyn Lee each added seven points off the bench, providing a spark during the decisive fourth-quarter run. 

Molly Zuburg contributed six points, four assists, and six steals, while Skyler Setzer added six points and four assists.

FINAL NOTES

The Avenging Angels held Salem to just 21.3 percent shooting from the field, including 7.1 percent in the fourth quarter. Meredith finished with a 50–42 rebounding advantage and forced 21 Salem turnovers.

Meredith will return to action on December 30th when they take on Virginia Wesleyan at home at 2pm.