CHARLOTTE, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (14-13) needed a big second half to take a 50-41 win over the Elizabeth City State Lady Vikings (5-18), Tuesday afternoon. After taking a 21-18 deficit into the locker room at halftime, the Rams outscored the Lady Vikings, 32-20 to claim the victory and to advance to the quarterfinal round of the 2017 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women's Basketball Championship Tournament.

The game turned out to be a real defensive battle as two of the top defenses in the CIAA faced off. As a team, the Rams were held to shooting just 31.5% (17-of-54) from the floor, including going three-for-15 from the three-point line in the game. However, the team countered their offensive struggles with some strong defense of their own, holding the Lady Vikings to shooting just 25.4% (17-of-67) from the floor. WSSU freshman guard Jahlia Williams led the way for the Rams with 11 points in the game, while senior forward Jasmine Carter added eight points with a team-high 12 rebounds in the game. Senior guard Jazmyn Saunders and senior center Taylor Boyd both scored eight points as well.

The Rams started the game on a high note, but a late first quarter drought gave the team some worries. The Rams opened the game with a 5-2 start with 8:56 left in the first quarter, but the team faded late in the quarter, allowing ECSU to go on a nine-point run to close the quarter and left the Rams trailing, 17-11 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw an improved effort by the Rams, but the team could not quite get enough to regain a lead. The Rams were able to cut their deficit down to just two points, 17-19 after a lay-up from Boyd with 7:04 left in the quarter. However, the Rams were held without any more field goals for the remainder of the half as a free throw from junior forward Briana Arnold with 1:15 left in the half were all the Rams could muster as the team finished the half trailing, 21-18.

It was in the third quarter when the Rams would regain control of the game. The Rams regained control of the game with a 9-2 run that included a pair of free throws from Saunders that tied the game with 6:47 left and a three-pointer from Carter that put the team ahead, 28-25 with 6:00 left to play. It was the Rams' first lead since the first quarter and it would be the team's last as the Rams went on to outscore the Lady Vikings, 6-4 in the remainder of the quarter to take a 34-29 lead into the fourth quarter.

Once in control, the Rams never looked back as the team pushed its lead to as many as 14 points after a Boyd lay-up with 4:47 left to play capped another nine-point run by the Rams that left the team on top, 43-29 with 4:47 left to play. Once in control, the Rams fended off a late attack by the Lady Vikings as the team outscored the Rams 7-2 in the final minute, but in the end, the Rams ended the day with the 50-41 victory.

With the win, the Rams advance to the quarterfinal round of the 2017 CIAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament. The team will go on to face the defending champion Virginia Union Lady Panthers, the second seed from the CIAA Northern Division. The two teams are set for a 2:20 p.m. tip-off at the Bojangle's Coliseum.

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.