WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Winston-Salem State University women's basketball team will travel to Johnson C. Smith for the Final Road Game of the Season.
 
Things to Know
Location: Charlotte, N.C. (Brayboy Gymnasium)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Media: Watch | Live Stats
Record: 10-14 (5-9 CIAA)
 
Series vs Johnson C. Smith
Dating back to 2006, the Golden Bulls lead the series 21-7 with the last matchup being on January 26, 2023, where the Rams won 71-55.
 
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 of the Week for week eight after leading the Rams with a season-high 18 points in the victory over Claflin this week. The Greenville, South Carolina native also had two rebounds, three assists, and three steals on the night while shooting 7-for-10 from the field.

 

• 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.

 

• 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.

 

• 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. 

CIAA Top-Ten Stats as of 2-14
•              The Rams are second in scoring offense averaging 68.5 points per game.
•              WSSU is fifth in defense, only allowing teams 57.4 points per game.
•              Amaya Tucker is ranked second in scoring with 328 points and averaging 16.4 points. She is also third in field goal percentage (.429), second in 3-point field goals per game (2.1), fifth in free throw percentage (.706), and second in steals (2.9).
•              Jainaya Jones is ranked third in assists (3.0).
•              Taniah Wilkins is ranked fifth in rebounds (7.2).
•              Jakaiya Mack is ranked first in steals (2.9).
 
Setting Milestones
Amaya Tucker has surpassed 1,000 career points in her collegiate career. She currently sits at 1,190 points.
 
Amaya Tucker is now the all-time three-point leader surpassing 163 threes.
 
Scouting Report
WSSU is 13-9 (9-5 CIAA) after losing to Fayetteville State University on February 11th. The Lady Rams are averaging 68.5 points per game while allowing 58.4. They shoot 40% from the field, 32% from the three-point range, and 65% from the foul line. WSSU averages 38 rebounds and 14 assists per game. They also are averaging 20 turnovers per game while allowing opponents to score 13 points off turnovers.
 
JSCU is 10-14 (5-9 CIAA) and lost their last matchup against Livingstone College 60-62. The Golden Bulls are shooting 38% from the field and are averaging 65.5 points per contest. They currently rank eighth in the conference in free throw percentage (63%). Shaniya Jones leads the Golden Bulls in scoring averaging 16.6 ppg.