By Benton Heck, Sports Info. Student Assistant

FERRUM, Virginia -- The Ferrum College women's basketball team beat Salem College in a non-conference game at Swartz Gymnasium this evening, 80-62. The win makes it three in a row for the Panthers as they were lead by three 20-point scorers.

RECORDS
Ferrum (4-6)
Salem (1-7)

THE BASICS
Ferrum opened the game with a 14-4 run, with Kayla Cabiness and DeMeisha Canada combining for 12 of those 14 points. Salem battled back and went on their own 14-4 run, to even the score at 18-18 after one quarter of play.

The second quarter was a tight one, with the Panthers edging the Spirits 19-18, to take a 37-36 lead into the locker room at halftime. Ferrum and Salem battled back and forth for most of the third quarter, with neither team building a commanding lead. That was until a Cabiness three-pointer and three straight scoring possessions, sparked a 13-0 run to give the Panthers a 61-46 lead. 

Both teams struggled to find points early in the fourth quarter, combining for five total points between them in first three and a half minutes of play. Play picked up in the final six minutes, with Ferrum edging Salem 16-14 to end the game. Canada tallied five points and four boards for her season high 20 points and her second double-double of the season.

Ferrum shared the ball a season-high 19 times tonight, Camille Mangum had a game high six assists for the Panthers. Cameron Hawkins recorded her second 20-point double-double this season in tonight's non-conference victory.

KEY STATS
Ferrum: Hawkins 21 pts, 11 reb; Canada 20 pts, 14 reb; Cabiness 20 pts
Salem: Dionne Sampson 19 pts; Tyler Davenport 11 pts, 5 reb

BEHIND THE WHISTLE
"Exciting wins for us tonight. In the second half, our energy and effort on the defensive end was really good. Offensively, we really shared the ball and made the right basketball plays. I'm not sure we have ever had a night where we have had three 20-point scorers. That as well as the 19 assists is really good. We have really shown improvement in the last couple of weeks. We still have lots of work to do, but we are getting better day by day. As a coach that is really all you can ask. The approach is getting better and the results are reflective of that." --Head Coach Bryan Harvey

NEXT UP
Harvey's squad will be back in action Friday, December 17, at home against Maryville (Tenn.) College. The non-conference game is scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m. in Swartz Gym.