The Salem University women's basketball team hopes to head into the holidays on a winning note as the Tigers travel to Institute, W.Va., this afternoon to take on West Virginia State University. Tip-off is 2 p.m.
 
Live Stats
 
Salem (2-9) is playing its second game in three days after falling 73-62 Wednesday at home against Concord. The Tigers trailed by only three points in the third quarter before a pair of scoring runs extended the margin to as many as 17 points. Salem cut the deficit down to single digits late in the fourth quarter, but Concord sealed the game from the free throw line.
 
Nerea Arambarri Fernandez led the Tigers with 15 points for her third consecutive double-figure scoring game. Fernandez has averaged 14.7 points in her last three games to bring her season average up to 10.1 points per game.
 
Reeva Jackson, who pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds Wednesday, is among the nation's defensive leaders. Jackson is tied for 30th with 18 blocked shots.
 
West Virginia State (3-7) fell to California University of Pennsylvania 79-58 Tuesday.
 
Salem and West Virginia State are facing each other in women's basketball for the first time since the 2009-10 season. The two teams split the last six meetings.
 
Today's contest is Salem's final women's basketball game until after the first of the year. The Tigers play host to Davis & Elkins College January 2.