Box Score Winston-Salem State's Women's basketball team staged a furious fourth-quarter rally, but it wasn't enough to overcome a large deficit and the Rams lost their second straight road game, 62-53, to number-one ranked Alaska-Anchorage at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Both teams' shooting percentages in the first quarter were as cold as the frigid Alaska air. The Seawolves scored their first basket with 9:37 to play. Neither team would score again until UAA hit two free throws with 5:37 to play.
WSSU's only points in the opening 10 minutes came with 4:54 to play when senior Melody Prichard hit a layup. Alaska-Anchorage closed the quarter with an 8-0 run and led 12-2.
Senior Hailey Gipson's five points and senior Laichelle Sparrow's two early layups sparked a rally that cut 'SU's deficit to four points at halftime.
The Seawolves responded in the third quarter, outscoring WSSU 24-9. Prichard sank a layup with 9:04 to play, slicing UAA's lead to 24-20. However, the Rams wouldn't score again until Prichard hit two free throws with 2:42 to play. UAA built its lead to 19 points at the end of the quarter.
The Rams caught fire in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Seawolves 26-16. UAA's largest lead was 21 points, 62-41, with 3:24 to play. WSSU's swarming defense came to life and held Anchorage-Alaska scoreless for the remainder of the game.
WSSU's 12-0 run wasn't enough to overcome the huge deficit.
For the game, the Rams outscored UAA 22-16 in the paint, but the Seawolves capitalized on 24 'SU turnovers to hold an 18-10 advantage. Each team had 35 rebounds. UAA dominated in points off the bench, 34-13.
The Rams hit 16-17 free throw attempts for a spectacular 94.1 percent. The teams were nearly even in shooting percentages with 'SU going 17-47 for 36.2 percent and UAA connecting on 20-59 for 33.9 percent.
Prichard led the Rams in scoring, hitting four field goals, including a three-pointer, and four-of-four free throws for 13 points. Graduate student Brooke Spaulding was the only other Ram to score in double figures. She finished with three field goals, a three-pointer and was 5-5 at the charity stripe for 12 points. Sparrow scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Road Warrior Rams dropped to 3-4 and will play four more road games before returning to the C.E. Gaines Center for a December 30th matchup with Meredith. WSSU has a 2 p.m. game Saturday at Salem, WV.
