MANSFIELD, Pa. –The Salem University women's basketball team battled to its first win of the season as it defeated Mansfield 90-71, Wednesday night.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 1-7, while Mansfield drops to 0-2.
"I was very proud of the effort my team played with tonight. They really wanted this win and did what it took to make it happen," head coach
Cody Gilmore on the win.
Salem shot 37.8 percent from the field (34-90) for the game, while Mansfield shot 32.8 percent (21-64).
The Tigers edged Mansfield in rebounds 53-52, while they outrebounded the Mountaineers on the offensive glass 21-15.
Junior
Endia Jones and classmate
Precious Price led the way for the Tigers as Jones produced a double-double, netting a game-high 24 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, while Price totaled 20 points, dished out three assists and notched three steals.
Salem had two others in double figures, as freshman
Daniela Quesada-Villalobos scored 12 and junior
Aaliyah Holmes added 11 points and five rebounds.
In the first quarter, Salem jumped out to a 26-11 lead. Price opened the game with a three-pointer just 10 seconds into the game for a 3-0 lead.
Jones knocked down a shot behind the arc with 6:09 remaining in the first quarter for a 15-4 lead over Mansfield.
Salem held its largest lead of 20 points at 9:16 in the second quarter after a layup by freshman
Makayla Pickens off an assist from classmate
Nerea Arambarri Fernandez.
But Mansfield would ensue with a 29-17 run to cut the lead to just eight heading into intermission (48-40).
In the third quarter, the Tigers expanded their lead up to 13 after a made three from Price at 4:32 and a layup by Quesada-Villalobos at 3:39 in the third quarter for a 61-48 lead.
The Tigers outscored Mansfield 24-13 in the fourth quarter. Mansfield cut the lead to five (68-63) with 8:08 left in the game, but that was as close as the Mountaineers would get. Salem went on a 22-8 run to close out the game.
Mansfield was led by Kira Merritt and Ellie Thompson who each had 14 points.
Salem held the advantage in points off turnovers 23-11, while the Tigers also controlled the second chance points 17-7.
Salem is back in action Wednesday as it hosts Pitt-Johnstown at 6:00 p.m.
