SALEM, W.Va. (Jan. 9) – Despite 19 points apiece from senior TaShay Smith (Baltimore, Md./Overlea) and sophomore Toi Brown (Detroit, Mich./Melvindale), the Tigers lost 80-65 to Cedarville in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play Saturday afternoon.
 
The loss drops the Salem International University women's basketball team to 2-13 overall, 0-3 in league play. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets improve to 4-0 in the G-MAC and 11-5 overall this season.
 
In addition to Smith and Brown, senior Dorina Barrett (Detroit, Mich./Pershing) reached double-figures with 10 points, five steals and three assists in the loss.
 
The contest went back and forth in the opening quarter. The Tigers jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first two minutes of the game, but nine-unanswered from Cedarville gave the Jackets a 11-7 lead halfway through the opening period.
 
Salem International responded with an 8-2 run of its own, capped off by a Brown layup, to take a 15-13 edge with 1:47 left in the first quarter. Cedarville answered back again with a 10-3 run to close out the period with a 23-18 lead; one which they would not relinquish.
 
The Yellow Jackets took advantage of their size in the paint by out-rebounding the Tigers 45 to 17 (13 offensive), while holding a 42 to 30 edge in points in the paint.  Salem International's defense, which entered the game ranked fifth in NCAA Division II in steals, forced 36 turnovers and finished with 22 steals in the loss.  Cedarville's single-game high for turnovers this season was 23 prior to the game.
 
Abby Wolford led the Yellow Jackets with 17 points in the win.
 
The Tigers will head to Elkins, West Virginia to take on G-MAC rival Davis & Elkins on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES: The Tigers were only out-scored by two points in the second half, but the Yellow Jackets took a 41-28 lead into halftime to establish a cushion for the final two quarters ... Salem International came as close as 11 points after a Brown layup-and-one with 1:32 left in the third period … The Tigers shot 40 percent (6 of 15) from three-point range; their highest since shooting 41 percent at Southern Indiana on 12/8/15