INSTITUTE, WV - The Salem Tigers (3-10) hit the road this afternoon to square off against the Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State University (7-6) as they still search for their first win of 2024. The Tigers looked to bounce back after a tough loss to the University of Charleston on the Tigers home court.

It was Anna Machytkova who got the scoring started for the Tigers with a pair of free throws in the early stages of the first quarter to even the game at 2-2. The Tiger defense played well early on, giving up only four points to the Yellow Jackets in the game's first four minutes. Salem reeled off a 9-0 run to go up 11-4 on State with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter. With the end of the quarter near, the Yellow Jackets turned up the intensity. They proceeded to rip off an 11-2 run on the Tigers to take a two-point lead into the break 15-13.

The opening minutes of the second quarter were all State. They put up six points in the opening three minutes to expand their lead over Salem to six at 21-15. After a few more buckets from the Yellow Jackets Carine Pinkney and Elena Pericic traded buckets back and forth for the Tigers to keep the game close. The Tigers also ended the half on a 6-0 run which trimmed the deficit to only three points as they found themselves down 32-29 at the half.

The third quarter has been a struggle for the Tigers lately and tonight was no different. After a close half which had them in a position to win Salem could not get a stop on the defensive end. Meanwhile, the offense had slowed in pace and production. The Tigers got outscored 26-10 and found themselves in a hole down 58-39 entering the fourth quarter.

Between the third and fourth quarters, Salem was able to make some key adjustments on offense that allowed them to get some rhythm once again. Unfortunately, the Tiger defense still had not developed an answer for the Yellow Jackets. While Salem put out a game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter the deficit they had dug themselves in was too deep. Salem dropped this one 75-62 which moves their record to (3-11) on the season.

The Tigers will be back in action on Wednesday, January 17th when they travel to Fairmont, WV to take on the Falcons of Fairmont State (12-2) at 5:30 pm.

SALEM STAT LEADERS:

Points: Elena Pericic (18)

Assists: Carine Pinkney (6)

Rebounds: Elena Pericic (12)

Blocks: Liliani Krause, Elena Pericic (1)