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| 1.9.06 |
| Fighting Koalas Celebrate Their First Win! |
The Fighting Koalas basketball team earned its first win since the sport was reinstated at Columbia College in 2004 with a hard-fought 51-48 victory over the Reinhardt College Lady Eagles on Monday night at the Godbold Center. Reinhardt was looking for a conference win after dropping two losses to Shorter College and Berry College last week. The Fighting Koalas were ready for action, though, after their two conference losses on the road, the first to nationally ranked Brewton-Parker College on Thursday and another loss on Saturday to Georgia Southwestern State University.
Going into Monday night's game, the team knew something was different. Head coach Joe Rice recalls the team meeting held after the Georgia Southwestern loss saying, "They knew they were talking a lot about hustling, playing tough defense and making their shots, but they were not doing those things. They decided they were going to start taking action instead of just talking about what they needed to do." Transfer point guard Denise Stocker added, "There is a different energy on the team since we returned from Christmas break. We have bonded as a team this week and were ready for a win."
The Fighting Koalas took the floor with enthusiasm and started the first half strong, when sophomore forward, Candace Collins, scored the first two points of the game. Freshman forward Santanna Shropshire quickly added another two points and the Koalas stretched their lead to four. Forward Denitra Parker scored nine points in the first half and garnered five rebounds for the Koalas, who at one point held a 12-point lead over the Lady Eagles. Although the Lady Eagles narrowed the gap several times throughout the half, the Fighting Koalas never relinquished the lead and ended the first period of play ahead with a score of 24-18.
The Lady Eagles came out strong in the second half and quickly tied the game at 26 and scored twelve unanswered points until junior forward Ashley Watson was fouled by Katie Hunter and hit both free throws. The two teams battled point for point for the rest of the half, tying up the score four different times. With less than three minutes to play, Columbia College's sophomore guard Sarah Scoggins fouled Cathy Thornton, whose first free throw tied the game at 48. The second shot that would have given the Eagles a one-point lead was negated when Thornton was called for a lane violation. On the free throw line again for the Koalas after drawing another foul from Hunter, Watson made one of two free throws giving the Koalas the lead. Parker scored the final two points of the game when she made both of her free throws. Parker and Watson were the high scorers, each banking a season-high 17 points. Parker brought down 12 rebounds and Watson added seven for a team total of 34.
When asked how it felt to finally win a game, Denitra Parker, a second-year forward from McCormick, SC, stated, "I can't believe it yet. It feels good and I want to keep winning! This is like a new beginning for us." After a stretch of 33 losses over the past two seasons, Coach Rice commented that this win was the springboard the team needed. "This was truly a team effort. I'm happy they have continued to work hard and were rewarded, but tomorrow is another day." He also alluded to another incentive the team was given to perform. "I promised them my assistant coach [James Morrison] and I would wear a suite the rest of the year if they win, so maybe they just wanted us to clean up a little!"
Whatever the reason, the Fighting Koalas proved that hard work, tenacity, and a positive attitude can go a long way to helping them reach their goals. They will see more action later in the week when they travel to meet the Lady Warriors of Southern Wesleyan University on Thursday, January 12, and they play at home on Saturday, January 14, against Emmanuel College at 2:00 pm. |
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