Women's Basketball Holds on to Defeat Columbia

ATHENS, Tenn.- The women's basketball team played their third consecutive home game to open the season on Saturday. The team hosted the Columbia College Koalas for an Appalachian Athletic Conference game. 

Anna Crowder, Mikalee Martin, and Cambree Mayo helped the team lead 7-3 five minutes into the game. The lead went on to change a few times over the next few possessions with Alexis Bates giving the team the final lead change of the quarter to make the score 12-11. Ella Crowder and Ashley Baxter helped the team take a 16-13 lead into the second quarter. 

A layup by Jacelyn Stone and a three-point basket by Jaci Powell moved the lead to 21-16. With six minutes until halftime, Mayo knocked down a three-point jumper to move the score to 29-21. The team went into halftime leading 37-30 after back-to-back three-pointers from A. Crowder and Powell.

Out of the halftime break, Mayo gave the team a double-digit lead with a three-point basket making the score 42-30. A second consecutive three-pointer by Mayo moved the lead to 15 points and Ashley Baxter's three-point jumper brought the team to 50 points in the game a few moments later. TWU continued to hold a double-digit lead until a basket at the end of the third quarter by Columbia cut the lead down to eight points. 

The game became close with 6:55 remaining in the game as Columbia cut the Lady Bulldogs' lead down to two points. A pair of free throws by Martin moved the score to 65-61 before five straight points by the visitors gave them a 66-65 lead. E. Crowder's three-point basket forced the final lead change of the game, moving the score 68-66 as the team went on to win 75-70. 

Mayo led the offense with 15 points and was joined in double digits by Martin (13), Powell (12), and A. Crowder (12). A. Crowder also secured 10 rebounds for a double-double.

The win moves the team's record to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the AAC.