SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Nov. 26, 2025)--Morgan State returned to the floor on Wednesday afternoon in a familiar place, one that has become nearly an annual trip for the women's basketball program since the 2016-17 season.
 
The Lady Bears, who were participating in the Discover Puerto Rico Shootout for the first time ever, were making their seventh trip all-time to Puerto Rico. Winners of two of its last three contests in Puerto Rico, all coming in the Puerto Rico Clasico, Morgan State began the Discover Puerto Rico Shootout against Wake Forest and dropped a 93-35 decision to the Demon Deacons at Coliseo Guillermo Angulo.
 
The loss was a season-long fourth straight for Morgan State, which fell to 1-6. Wake Forest remained unbeaten on the season at 7-0 and improved to 7-0 all-time against Morgan State.
 
Ja'la Bannerman led the Lady Bears with 10 points, and added two rebounds, an assist and a game-high two steals. Mihjae Hayes recorded eight points, two assists and a steal, while Maya Woodson pulled down a game-high nine rebounds to go with four points and an assist.
 
The Lady Bears shot 22 percent (13-of-60) from the floor and was 3-of-15 (20 percent) from three-point range. Morgan went to the free throw line just 10 times, connecting on six for 60 percent. The Deacs went to the line 33 times and knocked down 24 free throws (73 percent). Wake Forest shot 31-of-54 (57 percent) from the floor and was 7-of-17 (41 percent) from beyond the arc.
 
Milan Brown led three Wake Forest players in double figures scoring. Brown was perfect from the floor, as she recorded a game-high 19 points on 6-of-6 shooting and converted 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Brown would also add game highs in rebounds (9), assists (6) and steals (2). Kennedy Moore tallied 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and a block. Caitlyn Jones came off the bench to score 15 points and totaled four rebounds, five assists and two steals.
 
Hayes hit a jumper with 7:10 remaining in the first quarter to even the score at 4-4. That's when Wake Forest used a 16-0 run over the next four minutes, capped off by a three-pointer by Moore to give the Deacs a 20-4 lead with 3:13 left. Morgan State would trail 27-6 after one period of play.
 
A 14-1 spurt over the final six minutes of the second quarter increased the Wake Forest advantage to 47-15 at the intermission.
 
The Lady Bears would play Wake Forest tough in the third quarter, getting outscored by just three points (15-12). However, the Deacs would respond with a 17-2 run in the final quarter, as they closed out the game outscoring the Lady Bears 31-8 in the fourth quarter.
 
Morgan State will take on Rice on Thanksgiving Day at 5:30 p.m. ET. Rice (4-2) won its opening game on Wednesday, defeating Illinois State 75-72 in overtime.


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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.