CIAA Tournament: WSSU women rip Saint Paul's

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Winston-Salem State women opened the CIAA Tournament with a convincing 66-33 victory over Saint Paul's on Monday night at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Rams (17-10) took an early lead and never let up. The Tigers (3-23) lost to the Rams for the third time this season.

In earlier first-round games: Chowan, playing in its first CIAA Tournament game, defeated Livingstone 56-52; Saint Augustine's defeated Virginia Union 69-53; Virginia State upended 2010 champion Fayetteville State 65-44; and Shaw rolled to a 95-63 win against Lincoln (Pa.).

Lady Rams Cruise in 66-33 Win Over Saint Paul's at CIAA Tournament

CHARLOTTE, NC - Judging by the numbers at the half, the Winston-Salem State Lady Rams seemed vulnerable in the opening round of the CIAA Tournament on Monday night. Except for one thing: the Lady Rams had Jasmine Newkirk.

Newkirk scored 14 of her game-high 15 points in the first half to lead Winston-Salem State to comfortable edge at the half as the Lady Rams took care of St. Paul's 66-33 to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

The victory sets up a heavyweight matchup in the next round when the CIAA South's third-seeded Lady Rams (17-10) will face Bowie State (17-9), the number 2 seed from the CIAA North, which received a first-round bye. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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