Koala Women Fall Just Short at TWU

ATHENS, Tenn. - The Columbia College women's basketball team rallied in the second half, but fell just short on the road 69-65 at Tennessee Wesleyan University on Saturday as their three-game win streak came to an end.

A high-scoring first quarter saw TWU lead 22-19 before taking a 41-36 lead at the break. A low-scoring second half then ensued, with the Koalas stepping up their defense to hold the Bulldogs to just 28 points outscoring them by one 29-28. TWU built a 12-point lead in the third quarter (57-45) before the Koalas trimmed it all the way down to two at the 2:45 mark of the 4th quarter going on a 20-10 run to trail 67-65. However, the Koalas would miss their final shots down the stretch to fall short in their comeback bid.

TWU improved to 11-13 overall and 10-9 in the AAC.

Junior guard Anaya Muhammad led the Koalas with 19 points and five 3-pointers along with five rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block while senior guard Tameah Gaddis added 10 points and 9 rebounds with 3 steals. Redshirt freshman point guard Makiah Thompson also scored 11 points with 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. The Koalas shot 33 percent overall and 40.5% from three while making 10 of 12 free throws.

Freshman forward Natalie Pitts added 8 points off the bench while freshman guard Krislyn Wilder posted 7 points and 3 rebounds. Freshman forward Leanissa Swinton also grabbed 7 boards with 4 points as well.

8th seed Columbia falls to 13-15 with the loss and 9-11 in the AAC and will now prepare for next week's AAC Tournament in Kingsport, TN where they will face #9 Montreat College in first round action on Wednesday afternoon.