Salem University played a close first quarter against a national top 20 team, but No. 17 Kentucky Wesleyan College pulled away in the second quarter for a 103-61 victory over the Tigers in NCAA Division II women's basketball Tuesday at Owensboro, Ky. Alicia Smith led the Tigers with 11 points.
 
Salem (8-17) was within one possession when Precious Price hit a layup with 6:09 left in the first quarter to keep the Tigers within 11-8. The margin never grew beyond four points and an Aaliyah Holmes layup with 2:53 remaining made it a 13-11 score.
 
Daniela Quesada answered a pair of Kentucky Wesleyan three-pointers with a pair of jumpers to pull the Tigers within 20-16 with 1:04 left. But the Panthers scored the final four points of the first quarter and opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 32-16. Kentucky Wesleyan led by double figures the rest of the way and built a 50-25 lead at halftime.
 
Inari Jones ended a Tiger scoreless drought midway through the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers from the left corner and the top of the key. Jones scored all of her nine points in the second half, all from beyond the arc.
 
Endia Jones finished with nine points, while Price and Quesada added eight points apiece.
 
Keelie Lamb scored a game-high 21 points for Kentucky Wesleyan (26-1), which extended its winning streak to 13.
 
Salem concludes its 2019-20 season Thursday evening as the Tigers play Ursuline College. The game was originally scheduled for January 18, but had to be postponed due to weather and travel conditions. Tip-off is 6 p.m. at T. Edward Davis Gymnasium.