Box Score GLENVILLE, WVA – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (4-6) struggled in the second half when the team took a tough 79-76 loss at Glenville State (3-4), Saturday afternoon. After taking a 49-39 first half lead, the Lady Rams struggled in the second half with just 27 points in the tough road loss. The loss marked the second straight season that the Lady Rams have suffered a three-point loss to the Pioneers as a three-pointer at the buzzer cost the Lady Rams in an 86-83 loss last season.
For the game, the Lady Rams had a solid overall effort as they shot 41.3% from the floor, but attempted just 31 second-half attempts in the loss. WSSU senior forward Dionna Scott led the way for the Lady Rams with 20 points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Kesheria McNeil added 10 points while junior guard Angel Porter and sophomore forward Jasmine Carter both added 11 points off the bench.
After getting off to a rough start to open the game, the Lady Rams soon kicked things into gear and had an impressive first half. The Lady Rams fell into an early 2-7 deficit in the first two minutes of the game, but the struggles would not last long. After falling behind by as many as six points, 22-30 with 7:05 left in the half. Freshman guard Tiana Edwards kicked things off with a three-pointer that sparked a 13-3 run by the Lady Rams that gave the team its first lead of the game, 35-33 on a McNeil lay-up at the 3:56 mark. Though Glenville State was able to tie the game, the Lady Rams would not relent for the remainder of the half as they outscored the Pioneers 14-6 in the final four minutes of the half to take a 49-39 lead into the locker room.
The momentum would not carry over into the second half for the Lady Rams as the team allowed five unanswered points to the Pioneers and saw their lead cut in half, 49-44 with 18:31 left. The Lady Rams would step up to the challenge as a jumper by sophomore guard Morgan Smiley capped a WSSU run that kept the team in front 59-47 with 15:27 left to play. From there, the Lady Rams could not find an answer for a late Glenville State rally. Though the Lady Rams were challenged, the team held on to their lead until a costly drought in the final minutes of play. A jumper from junior forward Jeri Craine kept the Lady Rams on top, 70-64, but it turned out to be one of just four WSSU field goals in the final six minutes of the game. During the drought, the Lady Rams were outscored 19-6 and ended the day with the tough loss.
With the loss, the Lady Rams fall to 4-6 on the season and complete the non-conference portion of their schedule. The team will return to action on January 3rd when they head to Lincoln, Pa. to take on the Lincoln (Pa.) Lady Lions for their Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) opener. 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.
