CONCORD, WV – The Winston-Salem State Rams (4-6) rode the wave of recent momentum to top the Concord Mountain Lions (1-7) for their third straight victory, Sunday afternoon. The Rams took the win behind a stellar performance from junior center Kandace Tate who powered the team to the win behind a double-double effort in the game.

Though the Rams played a strong overall game, the team had to fend off a pesky Mountain Lions to that staged a late comeback effort in the game. As a team, the Rams shot a solid 37.5% (24-of-64) from the floor, including scoring 28 points in the paint and 11 second chance points. WSSU junior guard Tiana Edwards led the WSSU scoring effort with 18 points in the game while Tate added a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds in the game. Senior forward Trei Torain added another great effort with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Rams opened the game with a strong early effort in the first quarter, but had to hold off the Mountain Lions' late rally. After opening the game with a 10-3 run, following a lay-up from sophomore guard Brionna Pate at the 6:55 mark. The Rams soon found themselves trailing, 11-14, with 2:55 left in the first after an 11-1 Concord run. The Rams were able to close out the quarter strong when a Tate lay-up was followed by a Carter three-pointer with 1:28 left to leave the Rams leading 16-14 after the first quarter.

The second quarter was equally dramatic for the Rams as the team held off the Mountain Lions once again. After playing to a 18-18, tie with 7:27 left, the the Rams built a five-point lead with a 12-7 run, 30-25 after another Carter jumper at the 2:19 mark, the Rams allowed one more Mountain Lion score to take a 30-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The third quarter saw the Rams boast one of their strongest quarters of the game as the team outscored Concord, 18-8. The Rams built their largest lead of the game, 46-31 after going on a 16-4 run to open the quarter. During the run, the team benefitted from a pair of Edwards three-pointers and was capped by a jumper from freshman guard Taniya Dunn. When a Concord jumper with 00:32 left in the quarter ended the scoring for the two teams, the Rams held a 48-35 lead heading into the quarter.

The fourth quarter saw a furious scoring effort from both team, but in the end, the Rams held off the pesky Mountain Lions to claim the win. A jumper from sophomore guard Brionna Pate gave the Rams their largest lead of the game, 56-39 with 7:03 left to play, but the Mountain Lions came storming back. With just 3:33 left to play, the Rams allowed Concord to mount a furious comeback effort that was sparked by nine unanswered points allowed and left the WSSU lead at two points, 60-58 with just 00:20 left to play. However, the Rams benefitted from some clutch free throw shooting as Edwards hit four free throws down the stretch to put the Rams ahead 65-58 before a Concord three-pointer with 00:09 left was all that the Rams would allowe as the team closed out the day with the 65-61 victory.

With the win, the Rams build some much needed momentum with its third straight victory. The Rams will need it as they return to the road for their next action when they head to Lincoln, Pennsylvania to open Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play against the Lincoln (Pa.) Lady Lions, Saturday. 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.