Box Score Nia Bishop scored 15 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead three-pointer with just over a minute remaining, but free throws in the final 34 seconds were the difference as Salem University dropped a wild 108-105 decision to Slippery Rock University in NCAA Division II women's basketball Wednesday at T. Edward Davis Gymnasium. Bishop led six Tigers in double figures.
 
The game turned into a battle of three-point shooting vs. free throws. Salem connected on 18 three-pointers and outscored Slippery Rock 54-12 from beyond the arc. Slippery Rock was 44-of-52 from the free throw line, compared to 17-for-24 for Salem. The two teams combined for 60 fouls, 37 whistled against the Tigers.
 
After Salem (1-3) from a 13-point first quarter deficit to take a one-point halftime lead, Slippery Rock (2-2) regained the lead in the third quarter and stayed on top for most of the second half. The margin never grew above six points and Daniela Quesada's three-pointer in the opening minute of the fourth quarter pulled the Tigers within 80-78.
 
Bishop sandwiched a pair of three's around a Slippery Rock basket to bring Salem within a point at 87-86 with 7:04 left to play. The Rock extended the lead to five, but Tamia Tart's three-pointer with 4:56 remaining pulled the Tigers within 91-89. Tart matched Bishop with four 3-pointers in the contest.
 
After Slippery Rock pushed the margin back up to five points on a Brooke Hinderliter three-point play, Aaliyah Holmes scored four points in a 5-0 run to tie the game 96-96 with 2:48 remaining. Hinderliter and Bishop traded back-to-back baskets as both teams reached the century mark, tied 100-100 with 1:26 left.
 
Slippery Rock regained the lead on Karrington Ketterer's basket before Bishop put the Tigers on top 103-102 with 1:02 remaining. The lead was Salem's first and only lead of the quarter as Ketterer drew a foul shortly before the shot clock expired and knocked down both free throws to put The Rock ahead to stay with 34 seconds left.
 
Salem was unable to convert on its next possession and Slippery Rock sealed the win with two more free throws and an uncontested fastbreak layup. Bishop scored at the buzzer for the final margin.
 
The Tigers trailed 35-22 at the end of the first quarter, but opened the second quarter on a 15-2 run, all the points coming from beyond the arc. Nerea Arambarri Fernandez opened the scoring, followed by a three by Holmes and back-to-back three-pointers by Tart as Salem scored the first 12 points of the quarter. After a Slippery Rock basket, Endia Jones' three-pointer tied the game 37-37 with 6:54 left before halftime.
 
The final six minutes of the half saw six ties and six lead changes before Precious Price's short jumper with two seconds left sent the Tigers to the locker room with a 53-52 halftime advantage.
 
Tart finished with 16 points for Salem, while Fernandez and Alicia Smith added 14 points apiece. Holmes scored 13 points and Quesada tallied 11 points. Jones pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds and came within a point of a double-double. Price dished out five assists.
 
Madison Johnson led all scorers with 28 points to go with 10 rebounds for Slippery Rock, which also placed six players in double figures. Hinderliter was 11-for-11 from the line and added 19 points. Daeja Quick had a game-high nine assists.
 
Salem returns to action Saturday as the Tigers travel to Cedarville, Ohio, to take on Cedarville University. The game is scheduled for a noon tip-off.