However, last Saturday at the loud Butcher Center, the Rams disregarded a seven-game losing skid and defeated West Virginia State, 86-73, by outrebounding the visitors (39-31), finishing the win making 54 percent of their field goal tries and getting four players to score in double figures.

With the Mountain East Conference tournament just over the brow of the next hill, the Rams improved to 10th place in the 12-school circuit and had a 6-20 overall record.

Morgan Arden, Kristen Nunn, Cara Mason and Liz Myers combined to score 65 of Shepherd’s 86 points, but Elizabeth Moorman (eight rebounds and six points) and Tiffany McKinney (six points) were influential because Mason, Myers, Kari Lankford and Sammy Bane all finished with four fouls — calling for more minutes for some of the ready reserves.

The foursome of Arden, Mason, Nunn and Myers were a combined 27-for-44 from the field, including 3-for-5 from three-point distance.

Moorman, Lankford and Myers were the leading rebounders and Nunn was credited with eight of Shepherd’s 15 assists.

The Yellowjackets dipped to 12-14 overall and 9-11 in their conference games. Laura Szorenyl scored 19 points and Deyahnna Styles added 17 points for West Virginia State.

The Rams outscored the visitors, 46-36, in the second half. Shepherd had claimed a season-high seven offensive rebounds in the first half where it took a 40-37 lead into intermission.

At the very end when the Rams were protecting their hard-earned lead, they were scoring inside and getting to the foul line with workman-like regularity.

The lead didn’t get away . . . and the Rams went into this week’s final games of the regular season with new faith in their rebounding and overall accuracy from the field