WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (10-10, 6-4 CIAA) gave it their all, but the team just didn't quite have enough when they took a 75-71 double-overtime loss to the Livingstone Blue Bears (11-9, 6-4 CIAA), Saturday afternoon. Both teams took things to the limit, but in the end, the Rams could not quite overcome some free throw line struggles and some costly turnovers in a heartbreaking loss that ended the Rams' five-game winning streak.

The Rams took the loss in spite of a great overall effort. Offensively, the Rams shot 34.7% (26-of-75) from the floor while holding Livingstone to shooting 34.1% (30-of-88) from the floor. However, the Rams' 26 turnovers and shooting just 52.9% (18-of-34) from the free throw line proved costly to the Rams in the tough loss. WSSU junior center Kandace Tate led the way for the Rams with a double-double 26 points and 12 rebounds to set a new scoring career high. She also added a pair of blocked shots. Senior center Taylor Boyd would join her with a double-double of her own with 13 points and 11 rebounds in the game.

The Rams got the game going with one of the best first quarter efforts of the season, scoring 21 points to start the game. After playing to a 6-6 tie in the first five minutes of play, the Rams broke out for a 17-10 lead with just over two minutes left to play in the quarter. The Rams went on to hit four key free throws in the final minutes to end the quarter to a 21-12 lead.

The second quarter turned out to be a different story as the Lady Blue Bears controlled the quarter before some late heroics sparked the Rams. The Rams allowed six straight points to the Lady Blue Bears to open the quarter, but Tate kept the Rams on top with a lay-up and free throw at the 5:10 mark that kept the Rams on top, 24-18. Things got tougher for the Rams when the team allowed nine unanswered point to the Lady Blue Bears and fell behind 24-27 with 2:14 left to play in the half. In the final two minutes, the Rams allowed just one Livingstone field goal, a three-pointer that left the team trailing, 30-26 before senior guard Taelor Mandeville connected on a jumper and fellow senior guard Jazmyn Saunders got a steal and lay-up at the buzzer that tied the game, 30-30 at halftime.

Saunders' heroics would spark a strong effort by the Rams in the third quarter. Once a lay-up from senior forward Jasmine Carter put the Rams on top, 32-30 in the early moments of the quarter, the game heated up with both teams trading baskets before back-to-back lay-ups from Tate put the Rams ahead, 40-36 with 4:36 left to play in the quarter. Though Livingstone answered with a three-pointer to cut the WSSU lead down to one point, the Rams stepped up with another Tate three-point play, followed by a lay-up from Boyd that gave the Rams a 45-39 lead with 1:52 left in the quarter. The Rams would allow one more Livingstone score, but hung on to take a 45-41 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The exciting first three quarters were no much for the thrill of the fourth quarter and beyond. After pushing their cushion to six points, 51-45 with 6:11 left in regulation, the Rams allowed back-to-back scores to find themselves tied, 51-51 with 4:27 left to play. The Rams would work their way into a 56-54 lead with just 10 seconds left before allowing a Livingstone lay-up with just a second left to finish regulation tied, 56-56.

The first overtime period saw the Rams trying to play catch up and the team made it a thrilling effort. After falling behind, 57-60 with 2:38 left to play, the Rams bounced back with a jumper from Carter pulled the Rams followed by a lay-up from freshman guard Jahlia Williams put the team ahead, 61-60 with 1:02 left in overtime. After claiming a 64-62 lead with just 15 seconds left to play, the Rams once again allowed a Livingstone jumper with just five seconds left to force a second overtime period.

Unfortunately, the magic ran out for the Rams in the second overtime. Things looked good early with back-to-back lay-ups from Boyd and senior forward Trei Torain. The Rams kept their four-point cushion until a five-point run by the Lady Blue Bears left the Rams trailing, 69-70 before a Tate free throw tied the game once again, 70-70 with 2:01 left to play. Unfortunately, the Rams would not manage another field goal as a Boyd free throw was all that the team could manage in the final two minutes, allowing the Lady Blue Bears to finish the game with the 75-71 victory.

With the loss, the Rams fall to 10-10 overall and 6-4 in CIAA play. More importantly, the Rams fall into a three-way tie for first place in the CIAA Southern Division along with Livingstone and Johnson C. Smith at 4-1 in division play.  The Rams will remain home for the next competition as the team will host the Elizabeth City State Lady Vikings in a 5:30 p.m. game. 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.