Lady Rams get second NCAA DII victory after defeating Gannon University by 19 points
The win advances WSSU to Monday night’s Atlantic Regional Championship
The Winston-Salem State University Lady Rams handily defeated the Gannon University Golden Knights 67-48 Saturday to earn a berth in Monday night’s Atlantic Regional Championship game.
For the second time in a row, the Lady Rams led wire-to-wire, this time getting off to a 9-0 start that eventually mushroomed to 16-4. The Lady Rams countered every time their opponent, the two-time defending Atlantic Regional Champions, tried to significantly trim the deficit.
WSSU appeared determined Saturday to win their second, consecutive NCAA game en route to Monday’s championship. The Lady Rams were led by sophomore forward Maia Charles, who scored 19 points, or 28 percent of WSSU’s output, in the victory. Senior guards Makayla Waleed and Jakaiya Mack each contributed 10 points.
The win is historic because it’s the first time in school history the Lady Rams will compete for the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Championship. It’s also historic because it represents a complete turnaround for a program that just a year ago went 7-20 on the season.
In the post-game press conference, head coach Tierra Terry couldn’t say enough about her team’s dominant performance.
“That was a really, really good team, obviously, who won the regional last year. To come out and be able to win this game today meant a lot to us,” Terry said. “They’re a welcomed team. They play like a machine. But I’m proud to see that we executed our scouting report today. We really played with a lot of heart, and we really played like it meant something to us.”
The Lady Rams led 23-15 at the end of the first quarter and scored the first five points in the second quarter before the Golden Knights got on the board. WSSU hit a 3-pointer on the buzzer to take a 15-point lead, 43-28, into halftime.
The Golden Knights scored first in the third quarter, trimming two points off the lead. But the Lady Rams countered with two points to again go up 15. In the end, WSSU won by 19 points – two points more than their margin of victory in their opening round game against the Glenville State Pioneers Friday – to make it to Monday’s championship game.
On Saturday, about 110 people attended a Watch Party inside the Cleon F. Thompson Student Support Center on campus.
“We had a great time at the Watch Party,” said Danari McIllwain, president of the Student Union Advisory Board, which sponsored the event in partnership with the Athletics Department, Career Development Services and Dr. Shawn Odom, interim associate provost and vice chancellor for student affairs. “It was electric.”
Students, faculty, staff and alumni attended the Watch Party and were treated to fried fish, fried chicken, baked beans, cole slaw and pulled pork, as well as an assortment of chips, candy, bottled water and a variety of sodas. Forsyth Seafood and Lowes Food donated the food, McIllwain said.
Many in attendance sported WSSU gear as they cheered and screamed while watching the Lady Rams’ commanding performance, McIllwain said.
“They were very dominant, and it gave us a lot of clarity going into the regionals championship, knowing we have a chance to … bring home another championship just like we brought home the CIAA,” McIllwain said. “The win was historic, and we’re glad to be witnessing this history and hope they go all the way.”
Another Watch Party will be held Monday in the Donald J. Reaves Student Activities Center when the Lady Rams will face Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
