Box Score RALEIGH, N.C. – Saint Augustine's University finished with a flurry, but it was the early moments of the contest which tripped the Lady Falcons in a 59-56 CIAA women's basketball loss to Winston-Salem State University on the Harvey D. Heartley, Sr. Court at Emery Gymnasium on Monday, February 9, 2015.
After trailing much of the game, the Lady Falcons nearly pulled off the win in the closing minutes. They got within 53-52 with 2:10 remaining, but the Lady Rams held on with a 6-4 game-ending run.
Head Coach Rachel Bullard says the Lady Falcons played with more fire in the second half after the Lady Rams gained momentum in the first half. "We played hard, but our defense was not as intense as it should have been during the beginning of the game," Bullard said.
Guard Regime McCombs (Jr./Greenville, SC) nailed a three-pointer for a 10-4 Lady Falcons' lead, but the contest quickly turned in the Lady Rams' favor. The Lady Falcons (2-4 Southern Division, 11-10 overall) never led again as they fell behind by 13 points in the first half and early in the second half. Bolstered by their pressure defense, the Lady Falcons chipped away at the deficit. They pulled within three points on four occasions before the three-minute mark.
After a layup by Tabitha Fudge and two free throws by Kesheria McNeil of the Lady Rams, guard Jeanne-Marie Wilson (Jr./Temple Hills, MD) scored on a layup to get the Lady Falcons within 57-54 with 1:32 left. After a steal by Walton, the Lady Falcons had a chance at a game-tying three but committed a turnover with 48 seconds remaining. Walton led the Lady Falcons with 11 points while Harris and McCombs each added nine points. Both forward Terri Jacobs (Jr./McDonough, GA) and Wilson scored eight points. The Lady Falcons forced 22 turnovers but shot 30 percent from the floor and committed 21 turnovers. They also made 22 of 35 free throw attempts for 63 percent. The Lady Falcons entered the contest ranked second in the CIAA in free throw percentage.
"We turned the ball over 21 times and most of those were unforced," Bullard said. "Free throws killed us."
McNeil led the Lady Rams with 17 points. Taylar Wells scored 11 points and Dionna Scott added 10 points for the Lady Rams (2-4 Southern Division, 9-13 overall), who shot 41 percent.
The Lady Falcons split the season series with the Lady Rams. The Lady Falcons won the first meeting 62-59 in January 2015.
The Lady Falcons will visit Johnson C. Smith University at Brayboy Gymnasium in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday, February 11 at 5:30 p.m. This will be their second game in three days.
"Like always, we have to bounce back and get ready for Johnson C. Smith," Bullard said.
