LINCOLN, PA – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (4-7, 0-1 CIAA) opened conference play on a down note when the team took a tough 72-63 loss at Lincoln (Pa.) (9-2, 1-0 CIAA), Saturday evening. The Lady Rams looked good in spots, but fell victim to some costly scoring droughts throughout the game.

The Lady Rams' loss came in spite of some solid overall play throughout the game. As a team, the Lady Rams shot 36.4% from the floor with 32 rebounds. However, turnovers turned out to be a problem for both teams as they recorded 28 turnovers each to combine for 56 turnovers in the game. WSSU senior forward Dionna Scott led the way for the Lady Rams with 16 point, including 14 second half points in the game. She also tied for a team-high four rebounds in the game. Junior guard Kesheria McNeil added 14 points with a 10-of-11 effort from the free throw line. Redshirt-senior guard Taylar Wells added a 10 points in her first action in over a year.

The game was a hard-fought affair from the opening tip as the Lady Rams opened the game with a 14-11 lead after Scott's sole basket of the first half. The Lady Rams remained in control of the game midway through the half as a pair of McNeil free throws left the Lady Rams on top, 20-15 with 10:00 left in the half. It was then that the Lady Rams ran into their first drought of the game as Lincoln (Pa.) scored nine unanswered points to leave the Lady Rams trailing 20-24 with 6:30 left in the half. In the final 10 minutes of the half, the Lady Rams managed just two field goals and fell behind by as many as five points, 31-26 with 2:58 left in the half. The Lady Rams would go on to cut their deficit down to as many as three points, 30-33 after a pair of McNeil free throws with 00:53 left in the half. However, those were the final points of the half for the Lady Rams who took a 30-36 deficit into the locker room at the half.

The second half turned out to be a much different affair for the Lady Rams as they came out ready to play and worked to erase their first half struggles. The team opened the half with a strong effort as they outscored Lincoln (Pa.) 6-2 to pull within striking distance, 36-38 after a Scott lay-up with 16:43 left in the game. The Lady Rams would keep up the pressure and completed their comeback as a Scott lay-up at the 11:20 mark gave the Lady Rams their first lead since early in the first half, 44-43. Unfortunately, the Lady Rams' scoring struggles arose once again as the Lady Lions went on a 10-2 run that left the Lady Rams trailing 53-46 with 8:25 left to play. The drought saw the Lady Rams go about five minutes without a field goal and allowed Lincoln (Pa.) to take a 48-58 lead. The Lady Rams would fall behind by as many as 13 points, 54-67 with 2:03 left. However, the Lady Rams would not relent as a Scott lay-up with 1:14 left pulled the Lady Rams within nine points, 58-67. The effort turned out to be the last hurrah for the Lady Rams were held to just five points in the final minute while Lincoln (Pa.) hit five free throws to finish the 72-63 WSSU loss.

With the loss, the Lady Rams fall to 0-1 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and 4-7 on the season. The team will remain on the road for their next action as they will head to Bowie State, Monday evening. 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.