Lions Fall at Winston-Salem

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.-- The Mars Hill women's basketball team held a halftime lead, but Winston-Salem State tightened up the defensive pressure in the second half to earn a 62-48 victory over the Lions at the C.E. Gaines Center Monday night.

The Lions held a 32-31 halftime lead, but the Rams opened the second half on a 9-2 run and held MHC to 18 percent (5-of-28) shooting in the second half to earn the victory. WSSU was paced by Shatavia Gray's double-double on 11 points and 10 rebounds. Armeka Booker paced Mars Hill with a game-high 19 points to go along with ten rebounds. The Lions fell to 0-2 on the season. The Rams open the season 1-0.

Ansley Ricker added 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting. The Lions hit 17-of-47 (36.2 percent) of their shots from the field.

Taylar Wells added 10 points for the Rams. Somolia McKenney, Vanessa Weston and Tareka Cesar added eight points apiece.

An 11-0 run late in the first half gave the Lions the lead heading into the locker room. A pair of free throws by Katie Buckner, seven straight points from Ricker and a layup by Booker gave MHC a 30-26 lead with 2:07 to play in the first half. The Lions took a one-point lead into the break after shooting 63.2 percent (12-of-19) in the half.

The Rams took the lead for good after a pair of free throws by Schatavia Gray with 19:35 remaining in the second half. A jumper by McKenney and a lay-in by Gray gave the Rams a five-point advantage before a jumper by Erica Warren cut the score to 37-34. That would be as close as the Lions would get the rest of the way however, as the Rams used a 12-4 surge to take a 49-38 lead with 9:38 to play.

The WSSU bench outscored their MHC counterparts 30-8. The Rams converted 22 points off Lion turnovers.

Mars Hill will travel to Tigerville, S.C. for a non-conference matchup with North Greenville on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m.