SHEPERD, WVA – The Winston-Salem State University Rams (0-1) women's basketball team opened the season on a down note when the team took a tough 75-61 loss to the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats (1-0) at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)/Mountain East Conference (MEC) Challenge. After playing to the Mountain Cats to a 31-31 tie, the team ran out of steam in the second half as they were outscored 44-30 to take the loss.

As a team, the Rams had a solid overall performance, shooting 40.4% from the floor, but they could not hold off the Mountain Cats who shot 43.8% from the floor. Sophomore center Kandace Tate led the way for the Rams with a near double-double when she led the team with 18 points and seven rebounds in the game. Sophomore guard Tiana Edwards added nine points off the bench for the Rams as well. Senior guard Awa Kalmstrom added eight points with five assists.

The Rams had a strong first half of play as they kept things close in each of the first two quarters. After opening the first quarter with a 10-10 tie, the Rams fell behind after a 19-12 run by the Mountain Cats, but the team was able to work their way back into it with back-to-back scores to trail, 16-19 at the end of first quarter. In the second quarter, the Rams stepped up to the challenge late. After falling behind, 18-24, the Rams stepped up with an 11-2 run that put the team on top, 29-26 with 4:35 left in the half. However, Pitt-Johnstown answered with a 5-2 run that left the score tied 31-31 at the half.

The second half saw the Rams' efforts fall short as the Mountain Cats pulled out the win. The Rams opened the half with a drought as Pitt-Johnstown kicked off the half with a 12-2 run by the Mountain Cats that left the team trailing, 41-33 with 6:01 left in the third quarter. The Rams' eight-point deficit grew to as many as 11 points with the Rams trailing, 39-50 with 00:41 left in the quarter. A free throw from junior center Sha'Quira Palmer at the 00:29 mark left the trailing 40-50 at third quarter. The fourth quarter turned out to be a high-scoring affair for both teams as the Rams scored 21 points while the Mountain Cats scored 25. After cutting their deficit down to just four points, 58-54 with 5:22 left, the Rams ran out of gas as Pitt-Johnstown went on a 17-7 run down the stretch to take the 75-61 loss.

The Rams won't have long to worry about the loss as the team will return to action tomorrow when they take on the host Shepherd Rams tomorrow. For more information on Rams women's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.