Bishop women open up season with 55-41 win at Salem

Winston-Salem, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan women's basketball team opened up its 2008-09 season on Saturday afternoon with a 55-41 win on the road at Salem College. Senior Essence Chambers (pictured) picked up where she left off last season with a game-high 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for the Bishops, who are now 1-0.

Both teams shot just 30 percent from the floor in the first half en route to a 25-23 halftime score in favor of the Spirits. 

Wesleyan held steady at 30 percent accuracy in the second half, but Salem struggled at just 17 percent (4-for-24). Down 29-26, Chambers knocked down two consecutive three-pointers near the 15:00 mark, and the Bishops did not trail again.

In addition to Chambers' performance, Triann Campbell, Desiree' Driver, Meredith Mills, and Nicole Williams each had eight points.  Driver also hauled in a game-high 11 boards.

Joanne Hall paced the Spirits with a team-high nine points.

Wesleyan returns to action next Friday at the Emory University Tip-Off Tournament in Atlanta, GA.  The Bishops will take on the host Eagles at 6:00 p.m.