Late Surge Dooms Women's Basketball Against Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C.- A late surge doomed the women's basketball team on Saturday. The team was unable to hold off the Columbia College Koalas in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest, falling 65-57.

TWU opened the game with energy, quickly taking a 4-0 lead after a layup by Jalaya Lindsey and an assist to Jaci Powell for another layup. Anna Crowder controlled the boards early, grabbing defensive rebounds to deny Columbia second-chance points. Lindsey scored again off a fast break to extend TWU's lead to 6-2. By the end of the first quarter, TWU held a narrow 15-14 advantage, thanks to clutch plays from Lindsey and Jacelyn Stone.

Columbia pushed back in the second quarter, taking advantage of turnovers to build a lead. Despite the setback, TWU stayed competitive, with Anna Crowder and Jalaya Lindsey providing strong rebounding and defensive plays. Lindsey and Stone continued to contribute offensively, but TWU trailed 31-23 at halftime after Columbia's late scoring run.

TWU came out firing in the third quarter, outscoring Columbia 25-9 and seizing momentum. Lindsey knocked down a three-pointer early, while Stone converted a layup to cut into Columbia's lead. Courtney Farr's fast-break layup and free throws from Crowder further fueled the Bulldogs' run. TWU's defense tightened, forcing turnovers and converting them into points. By the end of the quarter, TWU had stormed back to take a 48-40 lead.

Columbia responded with a strong fourth quarter, rallying to retake the lead. TWU fought back with Lindsey's fast-break layup and a clutch three-pointer by Abbey Barr to narrow the deficit. Despite their efforts, the Lady Bulldogs were not able to overcome the late deficit.

Lindsey led the team with 16 points Stone added 14 points.

Tennessee Wesleyan (4-4, 3-3 AAC) plays their final AAC game of the 2024 calendar year on the road on Tuesday. The team travels to face Bluefield University at 5:30 p.m.