Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 22, 1995                   TAG: 9509220107
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                 LENGTH: Medium

SALEM SURVIVES VS. BLACKSBURG

Led by four scorers in double figures, the Spartans defeated an improving Blacksburg team 62-53 Thursday night in a non-district girls' basketball game.

After defeating the Indians 60-26 in the teams' first encounter this season, Salem was forced to labor for a victory in Blacksburg.

Was Wright happy to see her team escape with its ninth victory against no defeats?

``Yes, I am,'' she said emphatically.

Her relief was well-founded. The Spartans scored four points in the opening 40 seconds of the second half to take a 35-23 lead, and it appeared as if they were ready to put away the game.

But the Indians, led by April Rogers and some tenacious offensive rebounding, embarked on a 14-6 run to close to 41-37 with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter. With the game clearly within their grasp, the Indians came unhinged.

During the next 5:12, Blacksburg was unable to make a field-goal attempt and further damaged its cause by turning over the ball six times.

During the same span, Salem's Mandy Williams scored six of her 11 points and the Spartans watched their lead balloon to 10, at 50-40. In the game's closing minutes, the Indians would get no closer than eight.

``We are playing much better now,'' said Mickey McGuigan, Blacksburg's coach. ``We did a better job defensively, but I think we got a little tired in the last quarter and didn't move our feet as well.''

The Spartans started the game slowly, missing their first five shots and turning over the ball five times in the first 4:30. But then the Salem offense began to click.

Tina Slate broke the ice with a short jumper and Sarah Palmer drilled a 3-pointer, giving the Spartans a 5-4 lead. Salem hit five of its next 10 shots to make the score 13-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Salem continued to shoot well in the second quarter, going 6-for-12 from the field, while Blacksburg struggled with turnovers. In the first half, the Indians gave away the ball 13 times. At the break, the Spartans led 31-23.

Shellie Johnson, Timesland's leading scorer, paced Salem with 16 points. Slate and Palmer each added 13.

Rogers led Blacksburg with a game-high 17 points.

see microfilm for box score