Dec. 19, 2006

Final Stats

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem State University Lady Rams saw a win slip away on Tuesday evening at the C.E. Gaines Center in Winston-Salem, NC as the Towson University Tigers rallied from a five-point deficit with under seven minutes to play to hand WSSU a 57-50 loss.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead only 90 seconds into the contest before the Lady Rams rallied to take their first lead in a half that changed hands nine times. 

WSSU would ultimately settle down offensively en route to holding a two-point lead at the contest's intermission as the Lady Rams led by a field goal at 28-26.

Second half action saw the lead change hands seven more times as neither team established control of the game as the two teams were deadlocked with just over 13 minutes to play.

The Lady Rams, behind the solid play of senior forward Shalonda Carter (Fayetteville, NC) and a pair of three-point field goals from Latoya Armstrong (Rocky Mount, NC) took a late-game seven-point lead at 46-39 with 9:22 remaining in the contest.

WSSU led the game by four points with 5:39 left to play before a late-game Towson run propelled the Tigers to the come-from-behind win.

Free throws from Alis Freeman and Kandace Davis, and timely baskets from Shanae Baker-Brice would help the Tigers to mount a 13-2 run to close the contest as they earned their eighth win of the season. 

"I told our team in the locker room that players make plays down the stretch.  You can't play for 36 minutes and 30 seconds and not execute down the stretch.  Holly Mahan of Towson found a way to help her team win.  We took her out of the game offensively and that was our goal but she found a way to help her team by rebounding.  That is what good teams and good players do.  My hat is off to Towson.  Joe [Towson head coach Joe Matthews] has done an outstanding job there and they are a very good team who is headed in the right direction.  I told my players that we played very hard and just did not execute down the stretch and that is what cost us the win." head coach Dee Stokes said in postgame interviews.

The Tigers were led by Holly Mahan's 13 points as she was the only Towson player to score in double-figures.  The Rams were led by Shalonda Carter's game-high 16 points and 13 rebounds as she tallied her sixth double-double of the 2006-07 season.

The loss drops the Lady Rams to 3-10 on the season while Towson University improves to 8-1 overall (1-0 CAA) with the win.

WSSU returns to action on Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 7:00 pm from Daytona Beach, Florida as they face the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman College.

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.

- wssurams.com -