Winston-Salem, NC-The Salem College Director of Athletics, Melissa Barrett, has announced that Anita Howard will become the second basketball coach in the NCAA era of the Salem Basketball Program. Howard will replace Jim Jackson, who retired at the end of the 2011-2012 season.

Howard comes to the Spirits with a wealth of coaching experience. She was most recently the associate head coach at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh for this past season. Howard was also an assistant coach at Shaw University, and she helped lead Shaw to the 2011 NCAA Division II Final Four. That team was also the 2011 CIAA Conference Champions.

She had a stellar playing career. Howard was the 1998 Georgia High School Player of the Year in 1998. She went on to play at Fort Valley State University (FVSU), where she was a three-time defender of the year and a team captain. Howard also played one season at Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU), where she was also the team’s defender of the year and a team captain.

During her time at St. Augustine and Shaw, Howard served as the basketball recruiting coordinator, defensive coordinator, travel planner, and she supervised team managers. She also has collegiate coaching experience at Winston-Salem State University, where she served as an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State University in 2006-2007.

She has time coaching AAU basketball   for both the Peach State Elite Basketball Program and the Nike AAU Basketball Program. Howard was an assistant coach at Savannah High School from 2005-2006. She is currently the basketball academy coordinator at the YMCA in Kernersville, and she is a Skill Development Trainer/Motivational Speaker in Winston-Salem.

Howard graduated from AASU Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor of arts in Fine Art and Design. She was on the dean’s list at AASU for 1 year and at FVSU for 2 years.

Winston-Salem, NC-Salem College basketball coach Jim Jackson has resigned his post according to Director of Athletics, Melissa Barrett. 

Jackson finished his seven-year tenure with a 55-105 record that includes a 2007 NCAA Division III Association of Independents Atlantic Region Championship. "We appreciate Coach Jackson's years of service to the Salem College basketball program" says Barrett. "He is a true professional and we wish him all the best." 

Lookout Mountain, GA-The Salem College basketball team lost in their final game of the season at Covenant College 65-47. Amber Miller (Mebane, NC) led the Spirits with 15 points and 7 rebounds. Salem finishes the season with a 3-19 record, and Covenant improves to 6-19.

The Spirits hung around until 4 minutes remained in the first half, when they trailed 24-18. Covenant finished the first half with a 10-2 run to take a 14 point advantage into the break. The Spirits pulled the lead to 11 early in the second half, but they were never able to get any closer.

Racheal Salmons (Yadkinville, NC) had 15 points for Salem and Zy Henderson (Spartanburg, SC) added 10 points. Margaret Cross led Covenant with 20 points.

February 23, 2012

DECATUR, Ga.- The Great South Athletic Conference announced its 2011-2012 women's basketball All-Conference awards with Sada Wheeler of Piedmont leading the way as Player of the Year, Madison McDonald of LaGrange as Freshman of the Year and for the second straight season, Darrin Travillian of Maryville earns Coach of the Year.

Helping her team to a 13-3 record in conference and #2 seed for this weekend's tournament, Wheeler was a force to be reckoned with on the court this season. She is currently second in NCAA Division III in rebounding(12.2) and field goal percentage (.596).The five time GSAC Player of the Week finished first in the conference in rebounding, field goal percentage and blocks (4.5) while also finishing second in points per game (16.6). 

Taking home for LaGrange their second straight Freshman of the Year title is McDonald who helped her team to their first ever upset of Maryville this season. She was a threat at the charity stripe all season shooting 73 percent for third best in the conference.

Leading his team to a fourth straight GSAC regular season title, Travillian earned himself Coach of the Year honors for the second year in a row. Sitting with a pretty 15-1 record in conference, he led the Scots to another #1 seed spot for the conference tournament this weekend.

2011-2012 Women's Basketball Conference Awards

Player of the Year- Sada Wheeler (PC)
Freshman of the Year- Madison McDonald (LC)
Coach of the Year- Darrin Travillian

All-Conference
Sada Wheeler (PC)
Katie Covington (LC)
Janell Menard (MC)
Amber Satterfield (PC)
Heather Miller (LC)
Morgan Crawford (HC)
Kiera Payne (MC)
Genefine Sapateh (ASC)
Lyndsay Haggerty (WC)
Lauren Burnett (MC)
Tayler Smith (MC)

All-Freshman
Madison McDonald (LC)
Patricia Pickens (HC)
Chelsea Graham (HC)
Christiauna Draper (Spelman)
Alex Bond (MC)
Morgan Woodward (CC)

All-Academic
Agnes Scott-Rachael Hornbostel, Kimberly Reeves, Arielle Register, Cristina Gutierrez, Lexi Pulice-Farrow, Courtney Brown
Covenant- Jessica Blankenship, Jessica Chittenden, Hannah Craft, Anna Kline, Meagan Kreisel,Erica Vaughn
Huntingdon- Morgan Crawford, Jessi Andrews, Jasmine Holcey, Katie Martin, Alyssa McCurry, Sekal Ousley, Kali Sands
LaGrange-Caroline Brashier, Hunter Connell-Sophomore, Heather Miller, Elizabeth Williams
Maryville-Cathryn Dake, Ashleigh Drake, Lailah Farmer
Piedmont- Lauren Anderson, Lauren Hamel, Amber Satterfield, Shanice Wheeler
Spelman- Jessica Reagans, Tiffany Sims, Jasmine Taylor
Wesleyan- Evgenia Korun

Sportsmanship
Agnes Scott: Cristina Gutierrez
Covenant College: Morgan Woodward
Huntingdon College: Jessi Andrews
LaGrange College: Hunter Connell
Maryville College: Lauren Burnett
Piedmont College: Caroline Hicks
Salem College: Karoline Summerville
Spelman College: Sterling Mitchell
Wesleyan College: Evgenia Korun

Decatur, GA-The Salem College basketball team could not avoid a season sweep on the road in a loss to Spelman 81-47. Zy Henderson (Spartanburg, SC) led the Spirits with 21 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. Salem falls to 3-18 on the year and Spelman improves to 9-15.

The Spirits fell behind early and were never able to hang with the Jaguars. Spelman opened up a 41-19 lead at halftime, and added to it after the break.

Amber Miller (Mebane, NC) added 11 points and 7 rebounds for Salem. Christiauna Draper led the Jaguars with 21 points.

Salem finishes their season on the road at Covenant on February 25th.

Winston-Salem, NC-The Salem College basketball team won their last home game of the 2011-2012 season in an impressive fashion with a 61-46 victory against Piedmont International. The team celebrated senior Cailyn Sappington (Winston-Salem, NC) before the game. Sappington finished with 4 points for the Spirits. Salem improves to 3-17 with the win.

The Spirits started out on fire shooting over 51% in the first half. They would go into the break with a 35-20 advantage.

Racheal Salmons (Yadkinville, NC) finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Zy Henderson (Spartanburg, SC) finished with 13 points and Karoline Summerville (Charlotte, NC) added 10. Amber Miller (Mebane, NC) had 9 points and 11 rebounds, and Phylicia Boles added 9 points and 10 rebounds.

The Spirits return to the road this weekend when they travel to take on Spelman on Sunday.

Winston-Salem, NC-The Salem College basketball team lost at home today in a Great South game against Maryville 84-35. Karoline Summerville (Charlotte, NC) led the Spirits with 10 points. Salem falls to 0-14 in the GSAC and 2-17 overall, while Maryville improves to 13-1 and 17-6 overall.

The Spirits fell behind early, but they were able to keep the score in range throughout most of the first half. The two teams went into the break with the Scots holding a 34-17 advantage. Salem was never able to cut into the lead in the second half. 

Racheal Salmons (Yadkinville, NC) added 8 points for the Spirits. Maryville was led by Janell Menard with 20 points.

The team plays their final regular season home game on the 14th at 7:00 against Piedmont International.

Winston-Salem, NC-The Salem College basketball team played a strong second half in a Great South game, but it was not enough to overcome an early lead by Huntingdon in a 83-61 loss. Amber Miller (Mebane, NC) led the Spirits with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Salem falls to 2-16 overall and 0-13 in conference, and Huntingdon improves to 14-8 overall.

The Hawks jumped out to a 27-7 lead in the first 10 minutes. For the rest of the game, Salem held their own. Huntingdon had a 52-27 advantage at the break.

Salem picked up their intensity in the second half, and kept the Hawks lead in the twenties for the remainder of the game. Racheal Salmons (Yadkinville, NC) added 12 points for the Spirits.

Salem returns to action tomorrow in another Great South home game against Maryville at 2:00.

LaGrange, GA-The Salem College basketball team only played with 5 players for the 2nd game in two days, but LaGrange never let up on the Spirits in a 105-27 loss. Karoline Summerville (Charlotte, NC) led the Spirits with 10 points. Salem falls to 0-11 in the Great South, and 2-15 overall.

The Panthers broke out to an early 32-8 lead in the first 10 minutes. Even with a sizable lead, they never let down on the short-handed Spirits and went into the break with a 61-17 advantage. Zy Henderson (Spartanburg, SC) added 8 points and 8 rebounds.

Salem returns home next Saturday when they host Huntingdon at 2:00.

Demorest, GA-The Salem College basketball team dropped a road Great South game at Piedmont College 69-41. The Spirits could not avoid the series sweep by the Lions. Karoline Summerville (Charlotte, NC) led Salem with 17 points and 2 assists. Salem drops to 2-14 for the season and 0-10 in the Great South.

Salem kept the game interesting for the first 10 minutes of play, holding a lead halfway through the first half. Piedmont was able to end the half with a 12-0 run and take a 35-23 lead into the break.

Piedmont started the second half with a 16-0 run and Salem was never able to get back into the game. Amber Miller (Mebane, NC) had 10 rebounds for the Spirits.

Salem returns to action on Sunday in another conference game at LaGrange.