WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (0-4) gave a tremendous effort, but was outgunned in a 76-38 loss to the local rival Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-0), Monday afternoon. The Lady Rams struggled against a stingy Wake Forest defense that held the Lady Rams to their lowest shooting percentage of the season at 22.7% and forced 24 WSSU turnovers. Though the team took the tough loss, the Lady Rams were impressive at times against the much bigger, more athletic Demon Deacons squad.
The Lady Rams were especially impressive on defense holding the Demon Deacons to shooting 33.3% on their home floor and forcing 11 turnovers. The WSSU starting lineup had a great night, scoring 33 of the team’s 38 points. Lady Rams forward Vontisha Woods recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the game. Fellow sophomore Rene Rector added eight points in the game.
WSSU’s Woods powered the Lady Rams’ first half efforts with nine rebounds in the half, but the team struggled mightily against the Demon Deacons defense that held the squad to just 20 shot attempts in the half. The first half was a defensive struggle early with the Lady Rams matching the Deacons at both ends of the court and battling to a 4-5 score on a Woods jumper at the 15:26 mark. Though the Lady Rams continued the defensive efforts, the squad’s offense ran into a virtual brick wall against the Demon Deacon defense. An 8-2 run by the Demon Deacons would put the Lady Rams into a 13-6 deficit, with just over 10 minutes left in the half. A three-pointer by WSSU sophomore guard Rene Rector would pull the Lady Rams back into the game, 9-13 with 9:42 left to play, but the WSSU offense would shut down late in the half. Down the stretch of the second half, the Lady Rams would manage just four points in the final nine minutes of the game. The WSSU drought left the Lady Rams trailing, 13-16 at the half.
The Lady Rams’ struggles would carry over into the second half as the team managed just one field goal in the first four minutes of the half and fell behind the Demon Deacons, 15-42. Things would get no better for the Lady Rams as the team managed just two field goals in the first 10 minutes of the half and fell behind 20-53 near the midway point of the half. Though the Lady Rams continued to battle, the squad was never able to get back into the game as the much more physical Wake Forest team stifled the WSSU offense down the stretch of the game. After scoring just 13 points in the first 10 minutes of the half, the team totaled just 12 points in the final 10 minutes with no field goals during the run. The news go no better for the Lady Rams as freshman guard Shatara Jackson went down with an injury at the 7:35 mark. The freshman was battling for an offensive rebound when she landed awkwardly.
With the loss, the Lady Rams remain winless on the season.
Press play to hear a WRAM interview with Lady Rams Basketball Head Coach, Dee Stokes.