WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (6-10, 2-4 CIAA) gave it their all, but the team fell short in a 62-59 loss to the Saint Augustine's Lady Falcons (9-6, 3-3 CIAA). After falling behind by as many as 10 points several times in the second half, the Lady Rams' comeback efforts fell just short in the tough loss.

The Lady Rams had a solid overall game, but struggled with some costly scoring droughts that cost the team in the loss. As a team, the Lady Rams finished the game shooting 36.7% from the floor and just 25% (five-of-20) from the three-point line. The Lady Rams struggled to stop the aggressive Lady Falcons team that shot 39.2% from the floor. The Lady Rams also had a tough time holding on to the ball as the team recorded 25 turnovers in the loss. WSSU senior forward Dionna Scott led the way for the Lady Rams with 13 points. Junior guard Kesheria McNeil added 11 points off the bench for the Lady Rams. Junior forward Tabitha Fudge led the WSSU rebounding effort with seven rebounds in the game.

Things looked good early for the Lady Rams, but the team ran into some struggles down the line in the first half of the game. The Lady Rams took control of the game early when the team jumped out to a 7-2 lead after a lay-up by senior forward Jovanah Graham at the 15:48 mark. Saint Augustine's would make a stand and cut the WSSU lead down to just three points, 13-10, but a Scott three-pointer at the 8:22 mark left the Lady Rams on top 16-10. It was then that the Lady Rams ran into a late scoring drought that allowed Saint Augustine's to gain a foothold in the game. After a Graham jumper at the 7:28 mark left the Lady Rams on top, 18-10, the Lady Rams were held scoreless for the next five minutes and Saint Augustine's scored nine unanswered points and left the Lady Rams trailing, 19-18 with 3:32 left in the half. Though a Fudge lay-up put the Lady Rams back on top, 20-19, the team ended the half allowing six unanswered points to the Lady Falcons and took a 25-20 deficit into the locker room at halftime.

The second half turned out to be a see saw battle as the Lady Rams made a furious late rally, but fell short late in the game. The half began on a down note for the Lady Rams as the team was held without a field goal for the first two minutes of the half and fell behind, 30-21 before a three-pointer from Scott sparked the team and pulled the Lady Rams within six points, 30-24 with 17:51 left to play. From there, the Lady Rams kept the game within reach, but allowed five unanswered points to Saint Augustine's and fell into a 37-27 deficit. The Lady Rams' deficit remained at 10 points until a late rally gave the team some much needed life. The Lady Rams went on an 8-1 run that pulled the Lady Rams to within three points, 52-49 with 5:26 left to play. Though the Lady Rams kept pushing, the team could never get closer than three points for the remainder of the game. After allowing back-to-back lay-ups by the Lady Falcons, the Lady Rams trailed 58-51 with 1:41 left to play. In the final minute, the Lady Rams cut their deficit down to four points, 59-55 after a lay-up from redshirt-senior guard Taylar Wells. But Saint Augustine's answered with some clutch free throw shooting to seal the game. Even a three-pointer from freshman guard Tiana Edwards at the 00:02 mark was not enough as the Lady Rams finished the day with the 62-59 loss.

With the loss, the Lady Rams fall to 6-10 on the season and 2-4 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play. The Lady Rams will return to action, Wednesday when the team hosts the Shaw Lady Bears in a 5:30 p.m. game. 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.