COLUMBUS, Ga. - The CIU women's basketball team played their first game back after the Christmas break and their second exhibition contest of the season as they faced off with Columbus State University (Ga.) on Thursday. The Cougar's hail from the ultra-competitive NCAA DII Peach Belt Conference and boast a win over NCAA DI program Charleston Southern (S.C.) earlier this season. It was a tough outing for the Rams as CIU succumbed to Columbus State 104-44; the loss will not count against the Rams' season record.

The exhibition allowed CIU to showcase their young players as freshman Zhani Thompson scored 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Thompson also added five rebounds and two blocks. 

Sophomore Zion Neat added 13 points, with a portion coming from the charity stripe as she went 5-of-6 from the foul line. 

Keniah Watkins mixed it up inside from the point guard position as the senior pulled down five rebounds. 

CIU will resume Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play on Jan. 4 at 5:30 PM as they travel to Knoxville, Tenn., for a showdown with Johnson University.