Jan. 20, 2005
Winston-Salem, NC - The Lady Rams of Winston-Salem State University played host to the #5-ranked Lady Bears of Shaw University at the LJVM Coliseum Annex on Thursday evening as WSSU looked to try to end Shaw's 40-game win streak versus conference opponents. Despite a valiant Lady Ram effort that kept the game close throughout, the Lady Rams fell in defeat 89-71 as Shaw used an 8-0 run in the game's final minute to push the final margin to 18 points.
The first half of play started out slowly as the two teams seemed to be playing in slow motion for the first four minutes of the contest, combining for only nine total points in 240 seconds of play.
However, the game would not stay slow for long as the two teams would collectively pick up the pace as the Lady Rams and Lady Bears fell into a run and gun style that heavily favored the #5-ranked Lady Bears.
Using the up-tempo style of play, the Lady Bears pulled ahead by as many as 12 points, leading 27-15 with 9:15 remaining in the first half of play. It looked as though Shaw would prove why they were worthy of a number five ranking in the nation (NCAA Division II) as they appeared to be on the cusp of blowing the game open.
To the Lady Rams' credit the home team would fire back, using solid defense and transition offense to pull to within four points at the halftime intermission. WSSU would trail the Lady Bears 41-37 heading into the locker room as reserve guard Latoya Armstrong's 8-points would keep WSSU in the hunt for the win.
The second half of play would see Shaw come out of the locker room on fire as they raced out to a 6-0 lead to pull ahead by double digits once again, leading by 10 points.
However, it was the Lady Rams who would answer right back as they would use a run of their own to once again trim the Shaw lead back to four points at 49-45 with 14:21 remaining in the contest.
The two teams would then see-saw back and forth for a good portion of the second half as Shaw would pull ahead by seven points, and the Lady Rams would trim the lead back to a more manageable three or four points, without ever being able to gain the momentum necessary to tie the contest.
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The inability to tie it and gain momentum would haunt the Lady Rams as Shaw would again run out ahead as a Joy Hairston three-point play would again push the Shaw lead to 10 points at 67-57 with 8:23 to play in the contest.
The three-point play would be the proverbial nail in the Lady Rams' coffin as Shaw raced ahead for good, keeping their lead in the double-digits the rest of the way, cruising to the win, their 41st straight over a CIAA opponent and eighth straight on the season (after a loss on January 2nd to #6 California of Pennsylvania).
Leading the way for the Lady Bears was Kiarsha Curtis who scored 17 points in the win. Leading the way for WSSU in the loss was Shalonda Carter who tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds as she led five Lady Rams in double-figures. Tiffany Tonkins recorded her second consecutive double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.
With the loss, the Lady Rams fall to 10-5 overall (2-2 CIAA, 1-0 CIAA West) as the #5 Lady Bears improve to 15-1 overall (5-0 CIAA) and win their eighth straight game.
The Lady Rams will return to action on Saturday afternoon, January 22nd, 2005 as they travel to Lawrenceville, VA to face the Lady Tigers of Saint Paul's College at 4:00 pm. The Lady Rams and Lady Tigers have met once already this season with WSSU emerging victorious by the score of 77-51 in Winston-Salem, NC on November 20th, 2004.
For additional information on WSSU women's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com
