Lady Koalas Rally to Knock Off Montreat in Overtime

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College women's hoops team rallied in the second half to force overtime before going on to knock off conference foe Montreat College (NC) 79-76 on Friday afternoon from the Godbold Center.

Columbia improves to 9-11 overall on the season and 5-7 in the AAC with the comeback win. CC was led by four women in double-figure scoring including sophomore point guard Makiah Thompson and her 15 points and 10 assists for a double-double. She also added six rebounds, 2 steals and a block while fellow guard, senior Tameah Gaddis posted 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and two blocks.

Off the bench, freshman guard Krislyn Wilder added 13 points and a team-best three 3-pointers while junior guard Lauren Wearbon was the 4th Koala to finish in double-figures recording 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Wearbon also thought she had won the game on a buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of regulation, but it was waved off due to a Koala timeout being called right before it.

The teams then headed to overtime tied at 68 apiece as the Koalas outscored the Lady Cavaliers 16-12 in the fourth and 21-18 in the third quarter. CC trailed 38-31 at halftime. Columbia got off to a good start leading 9-2 early in the ifrst before MC went on a 19-3 run to take a 21-12 lead in the second quarter. Columbia did not lead for the entirety of the second half before outscoring Montreat 11-8 in the extra period. 

Near the end of regulation, the Koalas trailed 68-63 with 90 seconds to play. Junior shooting guard Anaya Muhammad then made a clutch three to get them to within two points before a Gaddis block and Thompson's free throws tied the game. Muhammad finished with 9 points, 3 assists and two steals while freshman forward Natalie Pitts registered 8 points and five rebounds.

Columbia shot 35.5% overall but just 27 percent from three while holding MC to just 3 of 22 from three (13%) and 39 percent shooting overall. MC made 15 of 16 free throws while Columbia knocked down 21 of 33 (63.5%). Montreat falls to 7-13 overall and 5-9 in the conference while the Koalas move into 7th place at 5-7.

Columbia will next remain home to host Truett McConnell (GA) next Wednesday at 5:00 pm.