COLUMBIA - A first-quarter advantage was not enough for CIU women's basketball on Saturday as the Rams dropped a home Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest to Union College (Ky.), 69-53. The matchup marked the 20th game of the season for CIU, who is now 4-16 overall and 3-15 in AAC play. 

The Rams had a promising start to the game as Madison Hatcher broke a 9-9 tie with a layin to put the Rams up two (2:12). CIU closed the first period on a 5-0 run to lead 14-9 after one. 

The second and third quarters were a struggle for the Rams as CIU was outscored by the Bulldogs 21-7 in the second and 29-7 in the third. However, the Rams would make a fourth-quarter push. 

After trailing 67-37 in the fourth quarter, the Rams closed the game on a 16-2 run. Mariah Leinbach was the catalyst for this run, as the junior scored ten points in the final period. 

Leinbach led the Rams on the evening in scoring with 17 points and was two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight boards. Hatcher chipped in nine points respectively, while Daja Taylor tallied eight. 

Irene Were was the Ram's only other player in double figures with ten points off the bench. 

Veteran point guard Keniah Watkins was effective for CIU with seven points and five assists. 

Up Next: CIU gets back after it on Tuesday, Feb. 6, facing the AAC's top team, Reinhardt University (Ga.), in Waleska at 5:30 p.m. EST.