WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (2-5) found points hard to come by in tough 52-46 loss to the Benedict Lady Tigers (4-0), Wednesday evening. The loss came in spite of a great defensive effort by the Lady Rams as the team held Benedict to just 52 points, but struggles on offense and foul troubles proved to be too much for the team to overcome in the hard-fought loss. 

Defensively, the Lady Rams had a strong night as the team held Benedict to just 52 points and allowed them to shoot just 27.9% from the floor, including just two-of-nine three pointers. However, the Lady Rams struggled to get points on their own as the team managed just 46 points in the game. As a team, the Lady Rams shot just 27.3% from the floor (15-of-55) and were three-for-14 from the three-point line in the game. The team also struggled at the free throw line, shooting just 52.0% (13-of-25) in the game. One of the team's bright spots proved to be sophomore forward Jasmine Carter who led the way with 13 points in the game, including hitting a pair of three-pointers. Sophomore guard Morgan Smiley and senior forward Dionna Scott both added eight points each, but both fouled out of the game.

Things looked good for the Lady Rams as the team had a solid first half. After battling to a 6-6 tie through the first five minutes of play, the Lady Rams took control of the game with a 16-6 run that left the Lady Rams on top, 22-12 with 6:25 left in the half. The run included three-pointers from both Carter and Smiley. After pushing their lead to as many as 11 points, 27-16 with 1:54 left in the half, the Lady Rams allowed five points to Lady Tigers in the final minute to take a 27-22 lead into the locker room at halftime. For the half, the Lady Rams shot a solid 31.3% from the floor, but totaled 12 fouls including four from Smiley.

The second half was a much different story for the Lady Rams as the team totaled just 19 points in the half and shot 21.7% from the floor. The WSSU offensive struggles began early for the Lady Rams as the team was held without a field goal for the first five minutes of the half. During the drought, a pair of free throws from junior guard Jeri Craine were all that the team could manage while their five-point lead was erased and replaced by a four-point deficit, 33-29 with 15:03 left to play. For the rest of the game, the Lady Rams were forced to go into pursuit mode, but the tough Benedict defense turned out to be too much for the Lady Rams. After falling into a 34-39 deficit at the 11:12 mark, both teams turned up their defensive efforts as the two teams went scoreless for a four-minute span throughout the game. A pair of Benedict free throws at the 7:41 mark broke the scoring seal and left the Lady Rams trailing  41-34 with 7:41 left to play. From there, the Lady Rams kicked things into gear. The Lady Rams responded with a 6-0 run that was capped by a Smiley lay-up with 6:25 left to play that pulled the Lady Rams within one point, 41-40. Though within reach, the Lady Rams allowed five unanswered points to the Lady Tigers to fall behind once again, 46-40 with 3:00 left to play. However, the Lady Rams would not give in as another Carter three-pointer cut the WSSU deficit in half, 43-46 with 2:36 left to play. Unfortunately, the effort was the last straw for the Lady Rams as the team would not hit another field goal for the remainder of the game. A free throw by senior forward Briana Wilder at the 00:57 mark was all that the Lady Rams could muster as the team ended the night with the 52-46 loss.

The Lady Rams will break for exams before returning to the road to take on the Barton Bulldogs. 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.