Lady Rams Take Tough 70-37 Loss vs. #25 Auburn - WINSTON-SALEM STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Nov. 24, 2007

COLUMBUS, OH - The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (0-3) got their first taste of top 25 competition, Saturday, with the team taking a 70-37 loss to the #25 Auburn Tigers (5-0) in the opening round of the 2007 Klosterman Buckeye Classic. The loss was a tough one for the Lady Rams whose young squad recorded more fouls and turnovers than field goals in the game.

The young team was outmatched by the experienced and talented Auburn team that held the Lady Rams to shooting just 23.2% from the field. For the game, the Lady Rams committed 31 turnovers, 22 team fouls and just 12 field goals. Freshman guard Nikki Kee led the way for the Lady Rams with nine points, all from three-pointers in the game. Fellow freshman Vontisha Woods added seven points and eight rebounds in the loss. Rene Rector added eight points as well for the Lady Rams.

The Lady Rams went with an all-freshmen starting lineup in the game for the first time this season and the team's youth was exposed early on as the squad went nearly seven minutes before scoring its first field goal of the game and allowing a 13-2 start by the Tigers. Eight of the team's first 12 possessions ended in turnovers. The Lady Rams would fall behind by as many as 24 points before a late surge by the Lady Rams would cut into the team's deficit. In the final three minutes of play, Rector and freshman guard Nikki Kee would both hit three pointers that would cut the WSSU deficit down to just 20 points. Fellow freshman guard Corbin Bradford would give the team a lift heading into the half with a steal and lay-up at the buzzer that left the Lady Rams trailing 19-37.

The second half started off as a much better one for the Lady Rams with the team forcing a Tiger turnovers, fouls and missed shots in the early going. But foul troubles and fatigue would set in on the young team and allow the Tigers to walk away with the win. WSSU held Auburn without a field goal for the first three minutes of the half, but were unable to capitalize with just one field goal during the run. Offensive struggles continued to plague the Lady Rams in the early going, however, with the team managing to score just three points, cutting their deficit down to 17 points, 22-39 with just over 17 minutes left in the game. A lay-up by senior guard Keoshia Worthy was the only WSSU field goal in the first 13 minutes of the half, while the Tigers would heat up pushing their lead up to 32 points, 55-23 with 7:49 left. Rector would snap the WSSU drought hitting a three-pointer with just under six minutes left to play.

The team did pick up its offensive efforts in the final minutes of play with the Lady Rams scoring 14 points in the final seven minutes of the game. Three-pointers by Kee and Rector would key the WSSU effort while senior guard Keoshia Worthy and freshman forward Jalesa Byrd would both make their way to the free throw line in the effort.

With the loss, the Lady Rams remain winless for the season and fall to 0-3 overall. The Lady Rams fall to the consolation game of the tournament and will face the winner of the Ohio State/Colgate game on Sunday.

Women's Basketball