SALEM UNIVERSITY WINS 2024 USCAA WOMEN’S DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP

Petersburg, Va. – Six-seeded Salem University rode the hot hand of tournament MVP.

Emerson Wells with 26 points and eight 3-pointers as Salem defeated Lyon 77-59 on Wednesday afternoon at Virginia State to win the 2024 USCAA Women’s Division I National Championship. 

Salem, the runner-up in 2023, held a 16-13 lead after one quarter but went wild in the second using a 21-2 run over a five-minute span to help propel them to a 44-31 halftime advantage. Wells and Elena Pericic combined for 17 of the 21 points in that run.

In the third quarter, Wells got her touch on again draining a triple to push the lead to 47-31 just 26 seconds into the third. The Scots went on an 8-0 run trimming the deficit to 47-39 after a Savanna Lopez layup with 6:35 left. Following a timeout, the Tigers went on a 10-1 run to take a 57-39 lead following a Pericic layup at the 2:13 mark. 

From there, the Tigers maintained that margin and went on to win the title. 

Joining Wells with 20+ points was Pericic with 23 and 10 rebounds, while Anna Machytkova also had a double-double for Salem with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Lyon was paced by Samantha Taylor and Natalya Kaza with 13 points apiece, while Lopez had 10 points.

2024 USCAA ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

Bryant & Stratton (Syracuse) – Eunice Sillong

Lyon College – Natalya Kaza; Samantha Taylor

Salem University – Carine Pinkney; Elena Perill

Tournament MVP: Salem University – Emerson Wells