Salem University slashed a 25-point deficit down to a two-possession game, but Seton Hill University pulled away in the final minutes to defeat the Tigers 91-77 in NCAA Division II women's basketball Saturday at T. Edward Davis Gymnasium. Nia Bishop scored 15 of her game-high 18 points in the second half to help spark the Tigers' comeback.
 
Salem (2-8) trailed by only three points early in the second period, but a scoreless drought of 5 1/2 minutes allowed Seton Hill (7-1) to take its biggest lead of the game at 51-26 with 3:23 left before halftime. Nerea Arambarri Fernandez hit a three pointer with 1:53 remaining and the Tigers went on to cut the margin to 56-36 at the break.
 
The Tigers continued to chip away at the lead during the third quarter as Bishop's three-point play and a pair of free throws by Alicia Smith drew Salem within 65-52 with 5:29 left. After Seton Hill got the margin back up to 16 on a three-pointer by Courtney Cecere, Salem used three-pointers by Tamia Tart and Bishop to cut the Griffins' lead to 75-64 with 23 seconds left.
 
Seton Hall's Samantha Kosmacki hit a short jumper just before the buzzer to extend the lead to 13 at the end of the quarter, but Salem would hold the Griffins scoreless through the opening five minutes of the fourth quarter to get back in the game.
 
Daniela Quesada forced a turnover and hit a short jumper and Bishop found Precious Price in the left corner for a three-pointer as Salem trimmed the margin to single digits at 77-69 with 7:34 left to play. After another defensive stop on Seton Hill's ensuing possession, Tart drove the lane for a layup and completed the three-point play to pull the Tigers within 77-72.
 
Salem stopped Seton Hill on its next four possessions, but the Tigers were unable to capitalize on the offensive end. Katie Nolan's layup out of a media timeout triggered a 6-0 Seton Hill run to build the lead 83-72 with 3:46 left to play. Salem never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.
 
Fernandez finished with 11 points, while Quesada and Tart added 10 points apiece. Endia Jones shared game-high honors with nine rebounds, while Reeva Jackson added eight boards and four blocked shots.
 
Cecere led six Griffins in double figures with 15 points to go with eight rebounds and eight assists.
 
Salem plays its final two games before Christmas Break this week. The Tigers play host to Concord University Wednesday at 3 p.m., the travel to West Virginia State University Friday afternoon.