COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU women's basketball continued Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play with a Wednesday evening matchup against Truett McConnell University (Ga.). Despite a first-period lead, the Rams could not hold off the Bears to fall 59-51.
Game Recap: The lead switched hands in the early minutes of the contest, but the Rams began to pull away with back-to-back baskets from Tonaja Lester and Mariah Leinbach to lead 11-8 after the first period. CIU went on a 6-0 run to start the second period (17-8), but the Bears began to chip away at the lead. A basket from TMU in the first half's final seconds forced a 26-26 tie heading into intermission.
CIU struggled to get going offensively into the second half of the contest, scoring just four points in the third period, with three of which came from Magdalena Mihaljevic. Trailing 47-30, the Rams responded with 21 points in the fourth. The squad came within eight off a Miranda Medley three, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit. CIU narrowly fell 59-51 against the Bears.
Irene Were led the team with her first double-double of the season, with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Leinbach chipped in with nine points and eight boards, while Zhani Thompson recorded eight points and her 100th career block.
Up Next: The Rams hit the road, traveling to Grayson, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 23, to take on Kentucky Christian at 2 p.m. EST.