WALESKA, Ga. - The CIU women's basketball team played their first Appalachian Athletic Conference game of the season on Saturday as they faced off against Reinhardt University on the road. CIU entered the afternoon 1-0 after defeating Carolina University earlier in the week. The last meeting between the two teams came last February when the Eagles got the best of the Rams 59-46. Saturday's game had a different feel, however, as CIU led by nine points at the half but ultimately fell to Reinhardt 82-72. CIU moves to 1-1 on the young season with the loss while Reinhardt is now 1-0.

How It Happened:

First Half CIU 47 RU 38: The Rams started a bit slow, giving up 23 first-quarter points to Reinhardt 13 of which came from Brylee Puckett. Quarter number two was a completely different story however, as the Rams could not miss, scoring 30 points in the second quarter . The Rams shot a blistering 12 of 17 from the field in the second quarter, including going 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Both freshman Zion Neat and junior Jordin McQueen scored 9 points in the quarter. Neat shot 5-6 from the field for the first half scoring 14 total first half points and leading the Rams to a 47-38 advantage over Reinhardt.

Second Half RU 82 CIU 72: The Rams led up until the 1:23 mark in the third quarter, clinging to a 58-56 advantage. Tiona Walls would knockdown two free throws before the end of the quarter but the Rams trailed 62-60 heading into the fourth. Walls stayed hot during the fourth, leading the Rams with 6 points during the quarter. However, plagued by poor shooting, the Rams could only muster 12 fourth quarter points and fell 82-72.

Game Notes:

• The Rams 30 points in the second quarter is the most points scored in a quarter by CIU in the NAIA era.
• Freshman Zion Neat led the Rams in scoring with 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting, while her high school teammate Briyaun Stewart was second in the points column with 13.
• Tiona Walls recorded the first double-double of her career with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
• Jordin McQueen was once again solid for CIU, scoring 11 points, 9 of which came in the first quarter.

What Coach Danielle Fleming is saying:
"We had a great second quarter, but in the second half, our shots weren't falling. Playing hard all four quarters is our goal, and I think we did that for at least two. Defense is still our focus, and against a good team like Reinhardt, we have to win on the boards."

Up Next:
The Rams face crosstown rival Columbia College on Tuesday, November 10th, on the Koalas' campus.