Box Score WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (6-5, 1-0 CIAA) opened Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play in a big way when the team took a hard-fought 71-69 double overtime win over the Virginia State Lady Trojans (8-5, 0-1 CIAA). The Lady Rams overcame some offensive struggles and a tough Lady Trojans team to pick up their first conference win of the season.
"This was a great win for us tonight," WSSU head women's basketball coach Stephen Joyner, Jr. said following the win. "This team showed the fight that I have been looking for and its right on time because Saturday will be a fight as well."
Though the Lady Rams had one of their worst shooting nights of the season, connecting on 24-of-83 shots for a 28.9% field goal percentage, the team utilized a stellar defensive effort, including forcing 31 VSU turnovers, to pull out the win. WSSU senior guard Courtney Medley scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Lady Rams to the win. She also added eight rebounds while junior forward LaQuanda Williams added a career-high 12 rebounds. Sophomore forward Alisha Hardley also had a big night with nine points and seven rebounds as well.
The Lady Rams opened the game with a slow start, allowing the Lady Trojans to score five unanswered points. The Lady Rams trailed Virginia State for much of the half, falling behind by as many as seven points midway through the half. However, the team was able to battle back, taking their first lead of the game with just over two minutes left in the first half. The team was able to keep the game within reach, trailing the Lady Trojans 24-22 at the half
Both teams gave an improved effort in the second half with the Lady Rams outscoring the Lady Trojans 33-31 in the half. The half was a see-saw battle with neither team going ahead by more than three points for all 20 minutes of the half. After a pair of VSU free throws put the Lady Rams behind, 53-51 with just under a minute left to play, a Williams lay-up in the final seconds of regulation tied the game for the 11th time.
In the first overtime period, the Lady Trojans jumped out to an early lead with four unanswered points, but once again, the Lady Rams fought back when a Medley lay-up tied the game with just over a minute left to play and sent the game into its second overtime period. In the final overtime period, the Lady Rams jumped ahead when a jumper by freshman forward Niya Phillips left the Lady Rams with a five-point lead, 70-65 with just over a minute left to play. Though the Lady Trojans would score four unanswered points, The Lady Rams were able to hold for the 71-69 win.
The win was a key one for the Lady Rams as the team will host the Virginia Union Lady Panthers for their second straight conference game, Saturday. For more information on Lady Rams basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.
