Feb. 21, 2008

GAME NOTES

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (2-21) will face one of their biggest challenges of the season when they take on the North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies (19-5). The game will be the biggest game of the season for the young Lady Rams squad this season. Not only will the team be facing a local rival in the Lady Aggies, but they will face a squad that has steam-rolled their way to a 12-0 record in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.

Though the game will not count in the conference standings, the chance to be the first MEAC team to notch a win over the Lady Aggies will be big feather in the caps of the young Lady Rams. Scoring a win over the Lady Aggies won't be easy as North Carolina A&T will be riding the momentum of a 12-game winning streak that includes a 71-51 win over the Lady Rams in Greensboro, NC earlier this season. The Lady Rams will head into the game seeking to snap their recent skid of five straight losses.

The young Lady Rams will need to turn up their defensive efforts if they are going to stand a chance against the Lady Aggies. This season, the Lady Rams are allowing 68.3 points per game this season and could be a problem against the top scoring team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with the Lady Aggies averaging 73.2 points per game. The Lady Rams will have their chances to score when they take on the Lady Aggies as the team is allowing 60 points per game to their opponents. The young Lady Rams scored 51 points in their last meeting with the Lady Aggies, one of just seven times this season that the squad has broken the 50-point mark this season.

Saturday's game will feature a battle of fantastic backcourts as both teams feature some dynamic guards and could offer some great play on the perimeter at both ends of the court. Leading the way for the young Lady Rams will be freshman guard Rene Rector, who has stepped up as one of the team's top offensive performers this season. She is currently the team's third leading scorer at 8.2 points per game and leads the Lady Rams in assists with 56. The Mount Tabor High School graduate has had nine double-digit scoring games in her career, including scoring a career-high 24 points in a win over Howard earlier this season. She also leads the team in three-pointers made with 30 three-pointers made this season.  Facing the Lady Rams will be the Lady Aggie tandem of senior guard Amber Bland and sophomore guard Ta'Wanna Cook. Bland is currently the sixth leading scorer in the MEAC averaging 14.6 points per game while Cook is 10^th at 13.5 points per game.

Saturday's game is set for a 5:30 p.m. start at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Annex on Deacon Boulevard. Fans are advised to get their early as attendance is expected to be high.