COLUMBIA - A strong second-quarter showing from CIU women's basketball was not enough, as the Rams came up short Saturday afternoon 83-51 versus Milligan (Tenn.) The Buffs currently sit in third place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (16-3, 19-6 AAC) and proved challenging for CIU in the weekend contest. The meeting was the 12th all-time between the two squads in which Milligan narrowly holds a 7-5 series advantage. With Saturday's loss, CIU moves to 4-18 overall and 3-17 in league play. 

After facing a 26-7 first-quarter deficit versus the Buffs, CIU bounced back in the second. Mariah Leinbach went a perfect 3-3 in the second quarter to score six points as the Rams outscored Milligan in the period and trimmed the lead to 39-24 at the break. 

The Buffs grew their advantage throughout the third quarter, but CIU would recover slightly toward the end of the period as Bethany Rymer's finish in the paint brought the score to 59-37 heading into the fourth. The Rams got as close as 66-43 on a Leinbach jumper (7:37) in the final ten minutes, but the lead proved insurmountable as CIU dropped the home contest. 

Leinbach filled the stat sheet on the afternoon with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Daja Taylor was the other Ram in double-figures with 11, while Jessica North battled inside for eight rebounds and six points.

Both Keniah Watkins and Madison Hatcher chipped in eight points as the Rams shot 38% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc. 

Up Next: The Rams have a week off before they return home to face in-town rival Columbia College (S.C.) on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 2:00 p.m. EST.