Salem defense the difference

The Quakers' press and Sarah Hamilton's scoring were too much for Niles.
NILES -- Salem High came to Niles Wednesday night for the Metro Athletic Conference opener for both teams, and the Quakers' full court press defense, along with the scoring of 5-foot-11 senior Sarah Hamilton, was too much for the Red Dragons, 63-20.
Sarah Hamilton, in the lineup with her sister Jessica, is the only returning starter from last season's 25-2 team that advanced to the Division II state semifinals.
Sarah Hamilton put the Quakers (4-0, 1-0 MAC) ahead to stay with a steal and easy layup with the contest only 22 seconds old.
It was the first of Niles' 36 turnovers, 21 of them coming in the first half.
Sarah Hamilton had 13 of the Quakers' 23 first quarter points and 19 at the half on the way to a game-high 30.
Long scoring drought
Six times in the early going the Red Dragons failed to get the ball past half-court, and turnovers on those possessions led to easy Salem baskets.
Tyler Fridley, a 5-7 junior scored Niles' first field goal with 6:11 remaining in the first quarter. That made the score 4-2, but by the next time the Red Dragons scored, a Stephanie Parish free throw at the 3:01 mark of the second quarter, Salem led 30-3. Niles was held scoreless for nearly 11 minutes.
Niles was held to just two points in both the first and third quarters.
Former Youngstown State standout Ann Marie Martin, in her first season as Niles' coach, said, "Salem is a great team with near perfect execution at both ends of the court.
"Their defensive pressure was too much for us which is testified to by our 36 turnovers, which won't win many games."
A 'breakout game'
Katherine McGarry was Salem's other player in double figures, finishing with 10. Jessica Hamilton had five rebounds and four assists.
"It was good to see Sarah Hamilton have a breakout game," said Salem coach Steve Stewart. "Early on our defense created havoc on the court and truthfully this has been the key to our season so far.
"Our team as a group plays hard and tonight it was our defense that did a great job of creating offensive opportunities."
Sarah Hamilton also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
"I wanted to come out strong early to set the tone for league play and tonight I felt we had excellent floor communication, especially on defense," she said.
Jessica Pallante had a team-high eight points and five of Niles' 13 rebounds. The Red Dragons are 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the MAC.