COLUMBIA - CIU women's basketball welcomed Bluefield University (Va.) to the Moore Fitness Center to kick off Thanksgiving break on Tuesday evening. Under the helm of interim head coach Cory Inman, the Rams found themselves in the win column for the first time this season since the season opener in October. CIU took down Bluefield 65-47 to improve to 2-5 overall and 1-4 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. 

Bluefield got on the board first, but a fast break in the paint from Keniah Watkins leveled the score at 2-2. The Rams added 17 more points in the opening quarter, establishing a 19-10 lead after the initial ten minutes. Bluefield chipped away at the lead, but a crucial layup from Alicia Slaughter secured CIU's 10-point lead (32-22_ heading into halftime. 

Despite a 16-12 third-quarter surge in favor of Bluefield, the Rams maintained a 6-point lead entering the final quarter. CIU's offense came back alive with 21 points in the final period, with Bethany Rymer leading the way with seven. The Rams led by as much as 21 in the fourth, and a layup by Watkins sealed CIU's dominant 18-point victory. 

Mariah Leinbach set the pace with her first double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing ten rebounds. Rymer and Watkins chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively. Alayna Watkins came in off the bench and made a significant impact with 12 points, six rebounds, four steals, and one block. Aubrielle Harris was a defensive stalwart for the Rams, grabbing 11 rebounds off the glass. 

Coach Cory Inman says, "I couldn't be prouder of the girls' effort and mental toughness. They deserve this win. I'm excited to watch them continue to grow!" 

Up Next: CIU gets to rest up before they hit the court again on Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. against Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Ky.