March 6, 2008

Final Stats |  Notes

ORANGEBURG, SC - The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (3-25) scored their biggest win of the season, Thursday evening, when the team took a stunning 64-58 win over the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs (12-16). The Lady Rams played their best overall game of the season, holding the Lady Bulldogs to just 31.8 percent shooting from their home floor and forcing 17 turnovers. On the offensive side of the ball, the Lady Rams committed just 15 turnovers in the game and shot 35 percent from the field themselves.

"We told the kids that this was the final game of the season and one that a lot of people will remember you for so let's make this a good one," Winston-Salem State head coach Dee Stokes said following the win. "And they [the Lady Rams] did just that."

The Lady Rams scored a season-high 64 points in the win, behind a balanced offensive attack that featured four WSSU players in double-digit scoring. WSSU freshman guard Rene Rector led the way for the Lady Rams with a game-high 17 points in the win. She had her best overall game of the season shooting 50 percent from the floor with three three-pointers and eight rebounds. Fellow freshman guard Nikki Kee also had a big night with 15 points including hitting four three-pointers and leading the team with four assists in the game. Freshman forward Jalesa Byrd added 13 points as well.

Leading the WSSU defensive effort was the tandem of freshman center Nora Campbell, who finished the night tying a career-high with five blocks to go along with 12 points and two assists in the game and fellow freshman forward Vontisha Woods who added 12 total rebounds in the game, including eight defensive rebounds in the contest.

The Lady Rams took control of the game early jumping out to a 6-2 lead with 17:57 left in the first half. The team continued their push taking a 22-12 lead on a Nikki Kee three-pointer at the 7:46 mark. The 22 point total was more than the team had scored in the combined first halves of their last two games. Down the stretch of the half, the Lady Rams found themselves in a real battle with South Carolina State cutting the WSSU lead down to four points, 26-22 with 00:43 left in the half. Kee would rectify that with a three-pointer at the buzzer to leave the Lady Rams on top, 29-22 at the half.

The second half looked much like the first half with the Lady Rams taking control of the contest in the early going. The team held on to the seven-point cushion for the first five minutes of play, 40-33 with 14:04 left to play. WSSU would continue to roll in the half as a lay-up and free throw by WSSU freshman guard Rene Rector would put the team ahead 10 points, 45-35 with 10:51 left to play.

The Lady Rams weren't yet in the clear, however, with South Carolina State mounting a furious comeback. In a span of two minutes, the Lady Rams saw a nine-point lead evaporate with South Carolina State scoring nine unanswered points to tie the game, 52-52 with 3:43 left to play. With victory this close, however, the Lady Rams would not let go as Rector would score five unanswered points to keep the Lady Rams ahead, 57-52 with 2:15 left on the score clock.

The final minutes of the game would see the young Lady Rams forced to show some resolve at the free throw line with South Carolina State closing to within three points 59-56 with 00:17 left. WSSU freshman forward Jalesa Byrd would connect on a pair of free three throws to give the team some breathing room. Rector would seal the 64-58 win with a pair of free throws with just one second left on the clock.

With the win, the Lady Rams avenged a 74-52 loss to the Lady Bulldogs in which WSSU was dominated for all 40 minutes of play. The Lady Rams will end the 2007-08 season with a 3-25 record, but with one of their biggest wins of the year.

For additional information on WSSU women's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2909 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.