WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (11-10, 7-4 CIAA) had their best performance of the season when the team rolled to a 65-54 win over the Elizabeth City State Lady Vikings (4-13, 2-9 CIAA), Monday evening. The Rams utilized a scorching hot offensive effort to take control of the game from the very beginning and never looked back.

The Rams had their best offensive performance of the season. The Rams shot a scorching hot 59.5% (22-of-37) from the floor to take the win. Senior guard Taelor Mandeville led the way for the Rams with 12 points, including shooting a scorching hot three-for-four from the three-point line. Fellow senior forward Trei Torain added 11 points off the bench. Junior center Kandace Tate nearly recorded her second straight double-double when she had eight points and six rebounds. Defensively, the Rams were also solid, holding Elizabeth City State to hitting just 19 field goals in the game.

The Rams took control of the game with a dominating first quarter performance, allowing just four made field goals for the quarter and taking a 17-8 lead. Two of the Lady Vikings scores came in the final minute after the Rams had amassed a 17-4 lead following a lay-up from senior center Taylor Boyd at the 1:23 mark.

Though the second quarter saw a much more competitive effort, the Rams would not relent as they remained in control to carry their lead into the locker room at halftime. Senior guard Jazmyn Saunders gave the Rams their largest lead of the half when she hit a three-pointer at the 7:15 mark and left the Rams on top, 20-9. The final minutes of the quarter saw both teams cool off for a bit as ECSU outscored the Rams 8-2 to cut the WSSU lead down to five points 26-21 at the half.

The third quarter was another competitive affair with the Rams surging late to remain in control. After allowing ECSU to trim their lead down to six points, the Rams went on a 5-2 run in the final minutes of the quarter to take a 40-31 lead. 

The fourth quarter turned out to be a shootout with both teams putting on high-scoring efforts. In the end, it was the Rams who would come out on top. The Rams opened the quarter on fire with 13 straight points in a run that included a pair of three-pointers from Mandeville and a pair of scores from junior guard Tiana Edwards and left the Rams on top, 52-31, their largest lead of the game. The Rams would ease up a little, allowing the Vikings to cut into their lead, but the Rams remained on top, 60-45 heading into the final minute of the game. The Rams would manage just one field goal in the final minute, but used some key free throws to seal the 65-54 victory.

With the win, the Rams improve to 11-10 overall and 7-4 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play. The Rams will return to action, Saturday when the team hosts the Saint Augustine's Lady Falcons in a 2:00 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.