An 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter was the difference as Salem University fell to Bluefield State College 73-65 in NCAA Division II women's basketball Saturday at Bluefield, W.Va. Endia Jones and Precious Price led the Tigers with 12 points apiece.
 
Saturday's loss snapped Salem's two-game winning streak and also ended the Tigers' quest for a third straight game with at least 100 points.
 
Salem (5-13) overcame a 35-30 halftime deficit as the Tigers scored the first six points of the third quarter. After Bluefield State (10-7) came back with its own 6-0 runs, Salem answered with an Inari Jones three-pointer and a jumper by Price to even the score.
 
Nia Bishop's three-pointer with 4:43 remaining broke a 43-43 tie and Salem went on to lead for the remainder of the quarter. After the Blues pulled within a point, Price hit a three-pointer and Bishop sank a pair of free throws to give the Tigers a 56-52 lead with 39 seconds left. But Bluefield State's Derricka Bramwell hit a layup with six seconds left and the Blues held Salem scoreless over the first four minutes of the final period to regain the lead for good.
 
Salem trailed 68-60 with 1:02 left to play before making a late rally. Aaliyah Holmes hit a pair of free throws with 55 seconds remaining and a steal by Price set up Endia Jones's three-point play. Jones drew a foul on her offensive putback and her free throw drew the Tigers within 68-65 with 49 seconds left. But Bluefield State hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final 41 seconds to seal the win.
 
The Tigers led by as many as six points in the first quarter as Endia Jones opened the scoring with a three-point play, while Holmes and Nerea Arambarri Fernandez connected on three-pointers to help give Salem a 15-9 advantage with 2:32 remaining. Bluefield State scored the next six points to even the score and Alexus Tucker's three-pointer in the opening minute of the second quarter put the Blues on top 19-18. Bluefield State led the remainder of the half.
 
Bishop finished with nine points to go with five steals, four assists and four rebounds. Holmes and Endia Jones led the Tigers with five rebounds apiece. After connecting on at least 20 three-pointers in each of its last two games, Salem was held to six three's Saturday. The Tigers entered the game ranked second in the nation with more than 11 made three-point field goals per game.
 
Tucker led all scorers with 18 points for Bluefield State, which had three players with 10 rebounds apiece. The Blues outrebounded the Tigers 51-34.
 
Saturday's contest marked the start of five consecutive away games for Salem. The Tigers return to action Wednesday at University of District of Columbia.