WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (2-1) got back to their winning ways, Tuesday evening when the team took a 66-57 non-conference win over the Virginia Union Lady Panthers (0-1). After a slow first half saw the Lady Rams take a 26-28 deficit into halftime, the Lady Rams exploded for 40 second half points to bring home the victory.

The Lady Rams took the win behind a solid overall effort as the team held the Lady Panthers to 57 points. As a team, the Lady Rams shot a solid 35.9% from the floor and committed just 14 turnovers. The Lady Rams also dominated the interior with a 54-41 rebounding edge over the Lady Panthers and six blocked shots. WSSU senior forward Dionna Scott led the way for the Lady Rams with a double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds while sophomore Sha'Quira Palmer added a double-double 11 points and 13 points as well. She also added three blocked shots as well. Freshman guard Tiana Edwards also had a strong night with 18 points, including going five-of-eight from the three-point line.

The Lady Rams ran into a slow first half as the team totaled just 26 points and shot just 27.8% (10-of-36) from the floor in the half. The half opened to a slow start for both teams as both teams went over three minutes before scoring. Virginia Union broke the scoring seal at the 16:46 mark. The Lady Rams would not score until the 16:13 mark when a Palmer lay-up got things going for the Lady Rams. The slow start left the Lady Rams trailing 2-9 with 15:06 left in the opening half. It was then that Edwards' hot shooting would spark the Lady Rams as she connected on a pair of three-pointers in a 10-6 run that pulled the Lady Rams to within three points, 12-15 with 10:02 left in the half. Virginia Union would answer with a run of their own that left the Lady Rams trailing 20-28 with just under four minutes left to play, but the Lady Rams would answer. The Lady Rams would end the half on a high note with six straight points Another Edwards three-pointer was followed by a free throw from sophomore guard Morgan Smiley, who hit a free throw that pulled the Lady Rams within two points, 26-28 at the half. 

The second half turned out to be a much different story when Palmer powered a 15-2 run that left the Lady Rams on top, 43-30. She scored nine of the team's points during the run. The Lady Rams' defense was also on point as they held the Lady Panthers without a field goal for the first seven minutes of the half. The action heated up in the final minutes when Virginia Union cut the WSSU lead down to just two points, 56-54, but the team would not let the win slip away. In the final minutes, the Lady Rams once again clamped down on defense in the final minutes as they allowed just one field goal to the Lady Panthers. The team went on to hit some clutch free throws to claim the victory.  

The Lady Rams will return to action, Saturday when they make their debut on the renovated C.E. Gaines Center court in a game against Belmont Abbey. 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.