GLENVILLE, WV – This afternoon the Tigers (1-6) hit the road to take on the Pioneers (5-2) of Glenville State University. Salem came into the day’s match looking to bounce back after a 67-75 loss on their home court to Concord University earlier in the week.
Salem took the advantage in the opening minutes of the first quarter thanks to a hot start by Cassandra Smith. She had seven of the Tiger’s first eleven points as they got an 11-4 lead on the Pioneers in the first five minutes of play. Glenville used a hockey-style substitution to keep fresh legs on the court at all times often subbing four or five at a time instead of the Tiger’s more standard rotation. Glenville seemed to flip a switch at the quarter’s halfway point. They ended the period on a 16-3 run to claim the lead at the first break 20-14.
Both teams caught fire from three to start the second quarter with the first twelve points of the period coming from beyond the arc and nine of those going to the Pioneers. Down fourteen, the Tigers made a 5-0 run to trim the deficit back down to single digits and keep it manageable. Elena Pericic led the Tigers in the second quarter, but could not overcome the hot shooting Glenville continued to display. At the half, the Pioneers led 48-34.
Salem was able to gain some momentum of their own to start the second half as they got out to an 11-2 run early on Glenville to cut the Tiger deficit down to five. Head Coach, Nikayla Edgell’s, halftime adjustments were proving to be an effective stalwart against the Glenville State offense. The Pioneers managed just sixteen points in the quarter (their fewest on the day so far). Salem’s offense seemed to have found its stride at the right time too. The Tigers put twenty-six points on Glenville in the third to get within four points of Glenville at 64-60 after three-quarters of play.
Carine Pinkney took the reigns in the fourth quarter for the Salem offense and she did not disappoint. Pinkney poured in nine points during the final quarter of regulation and helped set up her teammates on offense in places to be successful. However, Glenville refused to roll over and let the Tigers walk away with the win. After Salem took a two-point lead in the closing seconds Dejaan Schuler responded with a mid-range jump shot of her own to tie the game and send it into OT.
The Tigers got down early in the fourth after a triple and two free throws by Glenville State in the first minute of play. From there the Tigers were unable to keep Glenville off the free throw line where they scored the rest of their points in the overtime period. In the end, the Tigers were not able to overcome the first-half deficit they found themselves in and fell to the Pioneers 94-88, dropping the Tigers record to (1-7) on the season.
The Tigers will be back in action on Wednesday, December 6th as they travel to Buckhannon, WV to take on the Bobcats (2-5) of West Virginia Wesleyan University at 5:30 PM.