Rams basketball teams seeking CIAA titles

Winston-Salem State's men's and women's basketball teams will compete in the CIAA tournament in Charlotte. The tournament started Feb. 25 and ends March 1.

Head Women's Coach A.G. Hall feels very confident about his team.

"There are still a few things we can fix, but I feel we have the pieces to win the tournament," he said.

Hall said he believes the strength of the team entering the tournament is its talent and depth. However, Hall is worried about their lack of an inside presence.

Hall said many of the Lady Ram's opponents in the CIAA tournament have players that are a lot bigger than them.

"Senior Jasmine Elum will need to play con­sistent and senior Amanda Hairston will need to have a big tournament," he said.

Elum, a senior healthcare management major from Philadelphia, will have her first experi­ence playing in the CIAA tournament. She said she is very excited and that she has heard so many great things about the tournament.

"Defense and toughness" will be key if we want to win," she said.

Coach Hall said winning the tournament would be rewarding.

"Anytime you put so much energy and time into something and you accomplish a goal, it's a great feeling," he said.

Head men's Coach Bobby Collins, like Hall, is feeling very confident about his team going into the tournament.

Collins said he feels his team is starting to play their best basketball and that this is the first time all season he has had a "good handle" on the team. ]

"We're still in contention to win the confer­ence championship, and it's a beautiful thing," he said.

Collins said he believes his teams' strengths entering the tournament are its talent at all positions and the players' ability to score. However, Collins said the team's chemistry and defense has to improve if the Rams want to be CIAA champs.

"Defense wins championships," he said.

"Everybody will be giving us their best shot. We can't take anything for granted and we have to go out there and play our best ball. We understand we have to win the CIAA tourna­ment to get a bid to the NCAA tournament."

Marquez Jones, junior sport management major from Kinston N.C. is the leading scorer on the team, and is second in the conference, averaging 19.9 points per game. Jones will also be playing in his first CIAA tournament.

"I'm excited," he said

"I was injured last year and unable to play so this year I'm glad to be out there contributing to the team. We have all the pieces to the puzzle."

He said every team in the conference is striv­ing to win the tournament.

"For us to win, it's going to take a total team effort on both sides of the ball and we need our fans there to support us."