After opening their season last night the Columbia International University women's basketball were back in action tonight as they faced off against the Montreat Cavaliers. The Rams and Cavaliers battled throughout the game with the Rams holding the lead most of the game, until the Cavaliers had a big fourth quarter to come away with a 79-77 victory. With the loss the Rams drop to 0-2 on the young season, while the Cavaliers move to 1-0.

The Rams opened the game on an 11-0 scoring run as three different player scored point over that span for the Rams. The Cavaliers would not score their first point of the game until there was 4:31 left in the first quarter. The Rams would continue to have a strong first quarter as they took a 22-12 lead into the second quarter. The Rams kept scoring in the second quarter, but the Cavaliers offense would come to life as they would trim the Rams lead to eight at half. The Rams would take 41-33 lead into the half.

The Rams would come out of the half shooting well as they scored the first four points of the half thanks to Abigail Siemens and Raven Fleming. At the 5:03 mark in the third quarter the Rams would push their lead to 16 after a huge three pointer from Fleming. Late in the third quarter the Rams would gain their biggest lead of the game when Ciara Boggs layup went in to push the Rams lead to 19. The Cavaliers would score the next four points of the quarter, but the Rams took a 58-43 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Cavaliers would start the fourth quarter on a 5-0 scoring run to trim the Rams lead to 9, but a huge three pointer from Liz Jenkins at 7:46 gave the Rams a 12 point lead again. However, the Cavaliers would continue to chip away at the Rams lead throughout the quarter. After two Cavaliers free throws at the 3:17 mark the Rams and Cavaliers were tied at 70. The Cavaliers would hit a three to take their first lead of the game, but after their three on the next possession Siemens would come down and score on a layup to trim the Cavaliers lead to one. At the 1:10 lead the Cavaliers hit a three to give them a 78-75 lead, but a jumper by Shanquilla Nicholson would trim the lead to one again. Unfortunately, those were the last points the Rams would score as Jenkins three at the buzzer hit of the rim and the Rams would fall 79-77.

The Rams shoot 52.5% from the field throughout the game...The Rams held the rebounding advantage at 47-32...Throughout the game the Rams had 12 assists and 8 steals...Fleming was the lead scorer for the Rams with 19...Five other Rams scored in double digits, Makeda DeSouza (12), Jenkins (11), Siemens (10), Nicholson (11), and Boggs (12)...Darah DeWalt led the Cavaliers with 28 points.

The Rams will be back in action on November 9 against Warren Wilson College at 5:30 p.m.