COLUMBIA, S.C. – CIU women's basketball team took the court Wednesday night to face off against Union College (Ky.) in hopes of improving their Appalachian Athletics Conference (AAC) record. The two teams faced off late last season, and CIU came out victorious. Wednesday night had a similar result as the Rams were able to overcome the Bulldogs 81-62 for their fourth AAC victory of the season. 

Somarian Webb immediately put the Rams up 4-0 to start the game, and Zhani Thompson helped keep this lead with 12 points in the first. CIU outscored Union 27-7,  shooting 56.3% in the first ten minutes. The Rams' offense came out strong again in the second, scoring 24 points and going up 51-25 before the half. CIU continued to put pressure on Union's defense with the largest lead of 32 points coming at the 7:11 minute mark of the third quarter. The Bulldogs pushed back in the fourth, outscoring CIU 23-14, but it was a useless effort as the Rams hung on for the double-digit win.

Webb and Thompson led the way for the Rams, both scoring a season-high of 19 points and shooting over 50% from the field. Thompson also picked up another double-double with 12 rebounds. Madison Hatcher and Hannah Wilkerson are now tied as the team's leading scorers with Thompson, as Hatcher scored 14 points and Wilkerson scored 11. All three players are averaging 11.5 points per game on the season. Terra Cook also reached double-digit points on the evening with ten. 

The Rams were able to hold the lead throughout all four quarters, and they outrebounded the Bulldogs 54-26. CIU scored a season-high of 81 points tonight, shooting 32-of-74 (43.2%) from the field and 7-of-20 (35%) from behind the arc. The Rams also collected 11 steals and four blocks on the night. 

Hear from Coach Danielle Fleming and Somarian Webb: 

CIU stays at home as they take on Kentucky Christian University on Saturday, Dec. 10  at 2 PM. The Rams are now 5-6 on the season and 4-4 in AAC play.