WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Senior guard Alissa Diaz scored a game-high 19 points, including 15 in the second half, as the Anderson women's basketball team opened a two-game road swing by rolling past Winston-Salem State, 59-39, in a nonconference matchup Wednesday night at the C.E. Gaines Center.

Anderson improved to 7-3 overall with its fifth straight win, as the Trojans are off to their best start since the 2007-08 team opened that campaign with a 7-2 mark en route to the school's fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Winston Salem fell to 2-5 and has dropped five of its last six decisions.

The Trojans committed a season-high 24 turnovers, but more than offset the miscues with a stifling defense that held the homestanding Rams to 25.5 percent (13-of-51) shooting for the game, including 5-of-30 from the field in the second half. AU was also 17-of-19 from the free throw line on the night.

Diaz also recorded six rebounds and dished out two assists, while sophomore guard Lesley Woods added 11 points. Senior Tilde Ahlin tossed in eight points and handed out four assists and senior Breonda Shannon pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

Junior guard Taylar Wells came off the bench to lead the Rams with 13 points.

The first half featured five ties and nine lead changes with neither team able to build more than a four-point lead during the opening 20 minutes, with the score deadlocked at 20-20 at the break.

But the Trojans broke the contest open with nine unanswered points during a three-minute span in the second frame. Woods ignited the run with her third 3-pointer of the game that snapped a 28-28 tie and Diaz followed with a rare four-point play to boost AU's lead to 35-28. Sophomore guard Sierra Simpson capped the outburst with a pair of free throws to give the Trojans a 37-28 lead with 10:35 left.

Wells connected on a trey to trim AU's lead to six, but Winston-Salem would get no closer, as Anderson opened a 17-point margin with less than five minutes remaining.
The Trojans wrap up their nonconference schedule with a visit to third-ranked USC Aiken on Wednesday, Dec. 19. Anderson then has a 16-day layoff over the Christmas holiday.