Nerea Arambarri Fernandez scored 17 of her team-high 21 points in the second half, but Salem University was unable to overcome a halftime deficit as the Tigers fell to Division I Norfolk State University 96-66 in women's basketball Sunday at Norfolk, Va. After being held to 24 points in the first half, Salem reached the 20-point mark in both the third and fourth quarters. The Tigers were outscored by only two points in the second half.
 
Salem (0-3) trailed 52-24 at the half and the margin grew to as many as 34 points before the Tigers started finding the range beyond the arc. Jordan Crace connected on a pair of three-pointers and Fernandez and Daniela Quesada each added a three during a 14-4 run for Salem. Faith Williams hit a layup with 36 seconds left as the Tigers played the Spartans even 22-22 in the third quarter.
 
Crace and Alicia Smith each hit a three-pointer in the fourth quarter, while Fernandez converted a three-point play and scored on an offensive putback to help keep Norfolk State (1-1) from adding to its lead. Fernandez capped the Tigers' scoring and eclipsed the 20-point mark on a three-pointer with 56 seconds left to play. A Norfolk State putback with 25 seconds remaining in the contest gave the Spartans a 22-20 edge for the fourth quarter.
 
Fernandez finished 7-for-13 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line to go with a pair of three-pointers.
 
Quesada scored 14 points and Smith added 13 points. The Tigers narrowly missed placing five players in double figures as Crace tallied nine points and Williams finished with eight points. Williams and Inari Jones shared team-high honors with seven rebounds apiece, while Fernandez and Quesada each dished out four assists. Salem hit seven of its 10 three-pointers in the second half.
 
Jalynn Holmes led five Norfolk State players in double figures with 23 points, while Ta'Liyah Edmonds pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds. The Spartans went only two-deep into their bench as each of their seven players saw at least 25 minutes on the floor.
 
Sunday's contest was Salem's second in a row against a Division I opponent. The remainder of the Tigers' schedule is comprised of Division II teams.
 
Salem was scheduled to play a pair of games at Gannon University next weekend and to play host to Georgetown College (Ky.) December 12 in a rematch of the Tigers' season opener, but all three games have been postponed. Make-up dates have not been announced.
 
Presently, Salem has only two games scheduled for the month of December as the Tigers travel to Erie, Pa., December 14-15 to take on Mercyhurst University on consecutive days. Game times are still to be determined.