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The Rams dropped a pair of games on the road to close out the week, and in the process fell below .500 in conference play.

Trey Wilson

February 3, 2013

BLUEFIELD, Va. – The Rams dropped a pair of games on the road to close out the week, and in the process fell below .500 in conference play.

The Rams (13-9, 6-8 Mid-South Conference) lost in a high-scoring game on Thursday at Pikevile (7-15, 3-10 MSC), 87-80.

Ashley White scored 22 points and dished five assists for Bluefield. Janee Simmons barely missed another double-double with 22 points and nine rebounds, even while sitting long stretches because of foul trouble.

Teqa McNeal reached double figures with 13 points.

Pip Pattison scored a career-high nine points, going 3-3 from three-point range. She also forced three of Bluefield’s four steals.

The Rams trailed 37-33 at halftime. A three-pointer from McNeal with 1:09 remaining pulled Bluefield back within five points at 78-73, but that’s as close as they would get.

Bluefield continued its road woes on Saturday at UVA-Wise (7-15, 4-9 MSC), falling in another close game, 68-60.

The Cavaliers pulled ahead by eight early. The Rams closed the deficit, and a basket from Simmons before the half brought the Rams within three. Bluefield trailed 29-26 heading into the break.

McNeal scored in double figures for the twelfth consecutive game, finishing with a team-high 19 points. She is currently fourth in the conference, averaging 19.1 points per game.

Simmons recorded her seventh double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

UVA-Wise opened the second half with a 7-0 run to push its lead to ten points. The Rams fought back again, and a jump-shot from McNeal put Bluefield ahead by two points with less than three minutes remaining.

After a couple of empty possessions, MaKenzie Cluesman hit a three-pointer than put the Cavaliers ahead for good.

The Rams return home for the next two games, where they are 8-1 on the season. They will host No. 21 Shawnee State (18-6, 9-5 MSC) on Thursday at 6 p.m., and Rio Grande (8-17, 0-14 MSC) on Saturday at 2 p.m. 

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