Koala Women Knock Off Georgia Gwinnett with Stifling Defense

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Columbia College women's basketball team used stifling defense to defeat non-conference NAIA foe Georgia Gwinnett College 56-49 on the road Thursday evening for their second straight win and 6th win in their past 7 games.

GGC got out to a slim 22-17 halftime lead after a low-scoring opening quarter saw the Grizzlies lead 11-7. The third quarter then saw the Koalas outscore the Grizzlies 15-9 to take a 32-31 lead into the fourth.

The Koalas then found their offense in the fourth scoring 24 points to outscore GGC by six and win the second half by a score of 39-27 as well.

Columbia shot 28.5 percent overall but just 21 percent from three-point range while GGC shot 33 percent from the floor and only 16.5 percent from three. The big difference came at the free-throw line where the Koalas made ten more free throws (20-10) than the Grizzlies while shooting 71% (20 of 28) from the charity stripe.

The Koalas were led by guards Makiah Thompson and junior Anaya Muhammad as they were the only two starters to finish in double-figure scoring combining for 29 points. Thompson led the team with 16 points and 3 assists while Muhammad added 13 points with 2 steals and a block.

Also playing well was senior forward De'Asia Feaster with six rebounds and 4 points and senior shooting guard Tameah Gaddis , pictured, with 11 points and two 3-pointers.

Columbia improves to 6-3 overall while GGC falls to 6-5. The Ladies next return home Saturday to host Reinhardt University in AAC action at a new tip-off time of 1:30 pm.