BALTIMORE, M.D. – The Winston-Salem State University women’s basketball team upset Bowie State University 64-61 inside CFG Bank Arena Monday Night in the opening game of the CIAA Tournament.
The Rams moved to (9-20, 2—16 CIAA).
Amaya Tucker led the Rams with a season-high 25 points and was named the Food Lion MVP of the game. Alexandria Warren scored nine points and Tolisha Walker chipped in with eight points and six rebounds.
Quick Inside the Numbers
The Rams went 23-of-57 from the field, 13-of-16 from the free-throw line, and 5-of-6 from three. The Rams grabbed 32 rebounds, scored 32 points in the paint, 11 points off turnovers, and had 13 assists and 21 bench points.
In the first quarter, with the Bulldogs up 9-4, Amaya Tucker hit a three-pointer making the score 9-7 with 9-7 remaining. Jakaiya Mack made the score 13-11 on a lay-up with 2:05 remaining. La’Niya Simes was fouled on a lay-up, where she went to the free-throw line connecting on 1-of-2. Simes made the score 13-12 with 1:32 left. The Bulldogs took a 13-12 into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, Chloe Williams gave the Rams their first lead of the game with two free throws 14-13 with 9:03 remaining. Down 19-16 with 7:15 remaining, the Rams went on a 7-0 run giving them a 23-19 lead. The run was highlighted by an Amaya Tucker lay-up, putting the Rams back in front 20-19 with 6:07 remaining. Kennedi Simmons extended the Rams lead to 31-21 on a three-pointer with 34 seconds remaining. The Rams took a 31-21 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Bulldogs began the quarter on a 10-2 run cutting the Rams lead to 33-31. Alexandria Warren the run on a jumper 35-13 with 6:13 remaining. Sierra Hunter gave the Rams a 40-35 lead on a turnaround jumper with 3:29 left. The Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run giving them a 43-40 lead. The Rams answered with a 5-2 run, highlighted by an Amaya Tucker three-pointer tying the game at 45-45 with 20 seconds left. The game would be tied 45-45 going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run giving them a 55-50 lead. Alexandria Warren answered back with a huge three-pointer, giving the Rams a score of 55-53 with 5:39 left. This started a 9-0 run as Starasia Bell-Freeman put the Rams back in front with a lay-up, followed by another lay-up giving the Rams a 59-55 lead with 3:16 remaining. The Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run giving them a 61-59 lead with 1:19 left. Starasia Bell-Freeman tied the game on a jumper 61-61 with 58 seconds remaining. After a missed lay-up by the Bulldogs and a rebound by Tolisha Walker the Rams called a timeout with 21 seconds remaining. Amaya Tucker took the ball and drove down the lane, as she went up for the lay-up she made it and was fouled. Tucker made the and-one making the score 64-61 with four seconds remaining. After a timeout by the Bulldogs they missed the game-tying three-pointer.
Up Next
The Rams will be back in action tomorrow playing Johnson C. Smith University, in the opening round of the CIAA Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. inside CFG Bank Arena.