WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Winston-Salem State women's basketball team outscored St. Augustine's by 11 points in the second half to claim a 61-50 victory Saturday afternoon at the C.E. Gaines Center.  The win avenged a one-point January loss to the Falcons in Raleigh.

Amaya Tucker hit 11 of her 19 shots to lead the Rams in scoring with 25 points.  Kendra Ross chalked up a double-double with 14 points and a season-high 14 rebounds.  Tyliah Burns added 11 points.

The two teams were tied at 28-28 after the first two quarters, but the Rams held St. Aug. to only nine third-quarter points and built an eight-point lead.  Ross hit a jump shot with 5:25 remaining in the quarter and Kennedi Simmons' free-throw upped the advantage to 33-30 with 4:47 to go.   The Falcons would never get any closer as Tucker scored seven points in the final 3:43 to fuel the Rams run.

Ross, Burns, and Simmons combined to hit 12 of 16 free throws for 75%.  Ross dominated the defensive board with nine rebounds, and the Rams defense limited the Falcons to 22.2% shooting from the three-point line.  St. Aug. was 2-9 from beyond the ark.

In a game that featured 16 ties and 16 lead changes, WSSU won the rebounds advantage 38-26 and outscored the Falcons 12-4 on second-chance points. 

The Rams improved to 10-8 overall and 4-2 in CIAA Southern Division play, two games behind Johnson C. Smith.

WSSU travels to Elizabeth City State for a Covid postponed makeup game on Monday followed by a trip to Claflin on Thursday.  The Rams return to the Gaines Center for a 2 p.m. matchup against Fayetteville State next Saturday.