COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU women's basketball hosted St. Andrews University (N.C.) on Tuesday evening and fell 75-55 after a low-scoring first quarter. The Rams battled back in the final three periods, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit. Their record is now 3-12 overall and 2-11 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. 

The Rams trailed 23-7 after the first quarter, with five points coming from the hands of Keniah Watkins. CIU heated up in the second quarter, outscoring the Knights 17-14, with Mariah Leinbach posting 11 points in the period. The second-quarter push was not enough to take the lead, however, as the Rams trailed by 13 going into intermission. 

Watkins and Leinbach combined for 12 in the third quarter, but CIU could not hold off St. Andrews' offensive onslaught as CIU trailed by 19 going into the final period. Watkins started off the fourth quarter with seven unanswered points, but CIU could not fully bridge the gap and fell 75-55. 

Watkins scored a season-high 23 points while becoming the third player in program history to score 1,000 points during their career as a Ram. Watkins eclipsed the milestone just 58 seconds into the game on a pair of free throws. Leinbach also added 23 of her own, shooting 41% from the field, one rebound shy of a double-double, while Alicia Slaughter picked up eight boards. 

Hear from Keniah Watkins postgame: