WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Winston-Salem State University women's basketball team head to Elizabeth City, North Carolina to face Elizabeth City inside the R.L. Vaughan Center Monday night.
Things to Know
Location: Elizabeth City, N.C. (R.L. Vaughan Center)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Record: 9-4 (3-2 CIAA)
 
Series vs ECSU
Dating back to 2006 the Rams lead the series 10-6. In the last matchup between the two teams, the Vikings defeated the Rams 65-50 on February 7, 2022.
 
Last Time Out
The Rams defeated Shaw University 56-43 yesterday in Raleigh, North Carolina. Jainaya Jones led all scorers with 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Amaya Tucker and Kennedi Simmons added eight points each, while Erin Hall dished in seven.
 
WSSU scored 23 points off of the Bears' turnovers.
 
Ram Returners:
WSSU brings back six returners from last season's quad, junior Erin Hall, graduate student O'Shea Hatley, senior Kendra Ross, sophomore Kennedi Simmons, graduate student Amaya Tucker, and sophomore Tania Wilkins. They finished 12-13 and made it to the quarterfinals of the CIAA tournament last season.
 
Ram Newcomers:
Winston-Salem welcomed in five freshmen (JaKaiya Mack, Prophet Sheffield, Alexandria Warren, Aaliyah Basler, and Jada Douthit), three juniors Hadiya Balser, Jainaya Jones, Makayla Smith, and senior Valencia Carroll during the offseason.
 
CIAA Preseason:
Amaya Tucker was named to the 2022-2023 All-CIAA Women's Basketball Preseason Team Backcourt after finishing last season averaging 13.6 pts per game, 43.3% field goal, 36.7% 3pt, 66.7% from the free throw line, and 4.2 rebounds per game. Amaya's performance led to her achieving All-CIAA Backcourt in the postseason. She was also named to the CIAA All-tournament team.
 
CIAA Weekly Awards
•              Jakaiya Mack was named the CIAA Women's Basketball Rookie Player of the Week for week one. She totaled 9 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a 1-1 weekend for the Rams. She had nine points, five rebounds, and two steals in her first collegiate game, which came against Fairmont State. The freshman added a team-high seven boards, plus two assists, and a steal in the 66-65 win over Concord.
 
•              Jainaya Jones was named the CIAA Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the week for week three after recording 10 points, nine steals, five assists, and two blocks in the Rams' lone game last week-- a 79-46 win over Carolina University. The redshirt junior logged nine of the team's 19 steals, which finished with 33 points off turnovers. The Bayboro, NC native also logged the only two blocks of the game for Winston-Salem State.
 
•              Taniah Wilkins was named the CIAA Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the week for week eight after recording a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to #2 Glenville State last week. 11 boards from the sophomore were a game-high and she made five-of-six shots from the field.
 
Setting Milestones
On January 14th when the Rams host St. Augustine's, WSSU will honor Amaya Tucker who has surpassed 1,000 career points in her collegiate career. She currently sits at 1,042 points.
 
Scouting Report
The Vikings defeated Livingstone 77-49 on January 5th and Johnson C. Smith yesterday at R.L. Vaughan Center.