Columbia International University Athletics

The Columbia International University women's basketball team was coming off of a win on Tuesday at Toccoa Falls. Today the Rams played host to Bluefield State College. The Rams were looking to pick up their second win of the season and the Big Blues were looking to get back on track. Each team struggled shooting the ball today, but a late fourth quarter push from the Rams wasn't enough as they fell 59-54.

The Rams would get on the board first as Raven Fleming hit a jumper at the 8:30 mark. The two teams struggled throughout the rest of the first quarter as the Big Blues scored only six points, while the Rams scored only five. 

The Big Blues would open the second quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 13-5 lead over the Rams. A jumper from Victoria Dickerson stopped the run and pulled the Rams withing six. At the 5:36 mark, Heather Blackburn hit a three to pull the Rams within three, but the rest of the quarter belonged to the Big Blue. The Rams would go into the half down 32-18.

The Rams would score the first four points of the second half as they got points from Fleming and Dickerson. The Big Blues continued to dominate as they would score at will and run their lead up to 20 with just over two minutes left in the quarter. In the final two minutes the Rams would score the final six points and trim the lead Big Blues lead to 14.

Ending the third quarter gave the Rams some momentum going into the fourth. Combined with the six points from the third and the first four of the fourth the Rams went on a 10-0 run to trim the deficit to 10 with 8:28 to go in the game. The Rams continued to ride the momentum and were able to tie the game at 48 thanks to a layup from Sam Wammock. The Big Blues would regain their lead, but on the Rams next possession they would take their first lead since the first quarter. The Big Blues would tie it up on a made free throw. With just under four minutes left and the Rams back in the game we had a tied score of 50. However, the Big Blues would own the final four minutes and stole a 59-54 win from the Rams.

Columbia International shot 26.9% (21-of-78) from the field and were just 2-of-14 from the three point line...Bluefield State shot 28.8% (19-of-66) from the floor and were 4-of-33 from beyond the arch...The Rams held an edge in the rebounding category as they 61 and the Big Blues had 51...The Rams also pulled down an impressive 18 offensive rebounds...Victoria Dickerson led the Rams with 17 points...Raven Fleming had another double-double as she finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds...Jordan Spruell just missed a double-double as she finished with 9 points and 14 rebounds...Sam Wammock had a solid game off the bench with six points and nine rebounds...Rosalie Pozo led the Big Blues with 21 points, while Lyndsay Hatfield had 12 points and 19 rebounds.

Columbia International will be back in action on Tuesday as they host Bob Jones University at 5:30 p.m. The game will be a whiteout so wear white and come cheer on your Rams!